The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Friday, December 18
Huntington, W.Va.
6 p.m. CST
UAB
6-3
22
at
13
Marshall
7-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
UAB
3
6
0
13
22
Marshall
0
0
7
6
13
CHAMPS AGAIN! UAB Defeats Marshall 22-13 to Win C-USA Title
12/18/2020 11:05:00 PM | Football
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – The UAB football was crowned 2020 Conference USA Champions on Friday night by earning a hard-fought 22-13 victory at Marshall in the 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship.
The Blazers (6-3) won their second league title in the past three years and have won both of their championships on the road, the only team in league history to do so.
Senior running back Spencer Brown became the first player in C-USA history to be named the Conference USA Championship Game MVP twice after posting 30 carries for 149 yards. He is also just the second player in league history to rush for over 100 yards in two different C-USA title games.
In the process, Brown eclipsed 4,000 career rushing yards, and he is just one of two active players in the nation to have 4,000 career rushing yards, along with Travis Etienne of Clemson.
Wide receiver Trea Shropshire entered Friday's game with 130 receiving yards all year and went off in the title game, compiling five catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. His 71-yard touchdown reception with 4:02 left sealed the victory for the Blazers.
UAB outgained Marshall (7-2) 468-268 overall and had 216 rushing yards and 252 passing yards. Defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, while UAB's pass defense stifled the Herd, holding Marshall to just 8-of-24 total for 138 yards.
UAB's defense was dominant in the first half, outgained Marshall 240-80, and collectively held Grant Wells and Xavier Gaines to 0-for-11 passing. UAB led 9-0 at the break and Hayden Pittman's first touchdown reception of the season was the game's only touchdown in the first half.
Johnston III found Pittman on a perfectly lofted ball over an outstretched Marshall defender for a 19-yard score down the sideline with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
The Thundering Herd capitalized on a UAB fumble early in the third quarter and converted it into seven points on a 7-yard pass from Wells to Artie Henry with 6:17 left in the third.
After an outstanding fingertip catch by Trea Shorpshire that moved UAB into Marshall territory, Matt Quinn connected on a 42-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the Blazer lead to 12-7.
Quinn then gave UAB a 15-7 lead with a 48-yarder with 5:55 left, but Marshall struck with a 70-touchdown from Wells to Gaines on the ensuing play to make the score 15-13. The Herd went for two, but TD Marshall's pass breakup kept UAB in front by two.
On UAB's next possession, Tyler Johnston III found Shropshire for the dagger to secure the victory.
Johnston III finished the game 12-of-22 for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
The Blazers (6-3) won their second league title in the past three years and have won both of their championships on the road, the only team in league history to do so.
Senior running back Spencer Brown became the first player in C-USA history to be named the Conference USA Championship Game MVP twice after posting 30 carries for 149 yards. He is also just the second player in league history to rush for over 100 yards in two different C-USA title games.
In the process, Brown eclipsed 4,000 career rushing yards, and he is just one of two active players in the nation to have 4,000 career rushing yards, along with Travis Etienne of Clemson.
Wide receiver Trea Shropshire entered Friday's game with 130 receiving yards all year and went off in the title game, compiling five catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. His 71-yard touchdown reception with 4:02 left sealed the victory for the Blazers.
UAB outgained Marshall (7-2) 468-268 overall and had 216 rushing yards and 252 passing yards. Defensive lineman Antonio Moultrie led the defense with a career-high nine tackles, while UAB's pass defense stifled the Herd, holding Marshall to just 8-of-24 total for 138 yards.
UAB's defense was dominant in the first half, outgained Marshall 240-80, and collectively held Grant Wells and Xavier Gaines to 0-for-11 passing. UAB led 9-0 at the break and Hayden Pittman's first touchdown reception of the season was the game's only touchdown in the first half.
Johnston III found Pittman on a perfectly lofted ball over an outstretched Marshall defender for a 19-yard score down the sideline with 11:55 remaining in the second quarter.
The Thundering Herd capitalized on a UAB fumble early in the third quarter and converted it into seven points on a 7-yard pass from Wells to Artie Henry with 6:17 left in the third.
After an outstanding fingertip catch by Trea Shorpshire that moved UAB into Marshall territory, Matt Quinn connected on a 42-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend the Blazer lead to 12-7.
Quinn then gave UAB a 15-7 lead with a 48-yarder with 5:55 left, but Marshall struck with a 70-touchdown from Wells to Gaines on the ensuing play to make the score 15-13. The Herd went for two, but TD Marshall's pass breakup kept UAB in front by two.
On UAB's next possession, Tyler Johnston III found Shropshire for the dagger to secure the victory.
Johnston III finished the game 12-of-22 for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
Team Stats
UAB
MAR
Total Yards
468
268
Pass Yards
252
138
Rushing Yards
216
130
Penalty Yards
50
42
1st Downs
21
10
3rd Downs
8
2
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
41:26
18:34
1st Quarter
UAB 3, MAR 0
UAB - QUINN, Matt 30 yd field goal 11 plays, 64 yards, TOP 6:10
2nd Quarter
UAB 9, MAR 0
UAB - PITTMAN, Hayden 19 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (QUINN, Matt kickfailed) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:54
3rd Quarter
UAB 9, MAR 7
MAR - HENRY, Artie 7 yd pass from WELLS, Grant (CIUCCI, Shane kick) 6 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:06
4th Quarter
UAB 12, MAR 7
UAB - QUINN, Matt 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 50 yards, TOP 6:22
UAB 15, MAR 7
UAB - QUINN, Matt 48 yd field goal 12 plays, 40 yards, TOP 6:47
UAB 15, MAR 13
MAR - GAINES, Xavier 70 yd pass from WELLS, Grant (WELLS, Grant passfailed) 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:17
UAB 22, MAR 13
UAB - SHROPSHIRE, T. 71 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (QUINN, Matt kick) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:36
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
PK
/ Football
WR
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