Brown Sets Touchdown Record in 42-10 Win at South Alabama

Thursday, September 24

Mobile, Ala.

6:30 p.m. CST

UAB

2-1

South Alabama

1-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UAB

South Alabama

Brown Sets Touchdown Record in 42-10 Win at South Alabama

9/24/2020 11:26:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score 2020 Season Stats Postgame Notes

MOBILE, Ala. – Senior running back Spencer Brown became UAB's career leader in rushing touchdowns on Thursday night as the Blazers defeated South Alabama 42-10 at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

Already UAB's career rushing yards leader, Brown added another accolade to his illustrious career by scoring his 36th career rushing touchdown and passing Pat Green, who scored 35 from 1991-94.

Brown had a monster game, tallying his 15th career 100-yard performance. He finished the contest with 20 carries for 105 yards and scored all three of his rushing touchdowns in the first half. It was the third time in Brown's career he has rushed for three touchdowns in a game.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Bryson Lucero shined in his first career start, throwing for 319 yards and two touchdowns. Lucero completed 18-of-28 passes and found nine different receivers throughout the game. Lucero's performance marked the first time since last season's game against the Jaguars that a UAB signal caller has thrown for over 300 yards.

His top target was Austin Watkins Jr. who had a career night by tallying his fourth career 100-yard receiving game and his first of the season. The Bilitnikoff candidate had seven catches for a career-high 183 yards and one touchdown. Myron Mitchell complimented Watkins Jr. with three catches for 77 yards, including a long reception of 52 yards in the second quarter.

The UAB defense was also on point Thursday night, compiling two sacks, eight TFL, two forced fumbles, one interception and three pass breakups. Will Boler led the team in tackles with seven, while linebacker Noah Wilder added six tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack and his first career interception.

It was a healthy dose of Brown on UAB's first two possessions which each resulted in touchdowns by the senior. Brown had 10 carries for 60 yards in the first two drives as UAB (2-1) led 14-0 after one.

South (1-2) turned the momentum in its favor in the beginning of the second quarter by scoring 10 quick points, making the score 14-10 with 12:57 left in the opening half. The touchdown came on a 38-yard connection from Chance Lovertich to Jalen Tolbert, and following a successful on-sides kick, USA converted that into a field goal.

With 10:20 to go in the second quarter, Brown found the end zone once again, this time from 20 yards out, to put the Blazers up 21-10. The score marked Brown's 36th career rushing touchdown, the most in UAB history.

The Green and Gold would strike once again before intermission as Lucero rifled a strike from six yards out to Trea Shropshire for the receiver's first career touchdown catch, making the score 28-10 going into the locker room.

After a scoreless third period for both squads, Lucero hit Watkins Jr. in the corner of the end zone to put the Blazers up, 35-10 with just over seven minutes to play in the game.

An interception by linebacker Noah Wilder, the first of his career, set UAB up with prime field position later in the final stanza, with the Blazers starting the drive at the 48 yard line of South Alabama. All 48 yards of the drive belonged to freshman running back DeWayne McBride, as the Ocala, Fla. native muscled it in from six yards away with 3:08 to go, putting UAB up 42-10.

The Blazers had 509 yards of total offense and held USA to 315. It was the first time the Blazers had 500 yards of offense since playing South Alabama last year in Birmingham.

UAB now returns home to open a three game home-stand beginning next Saturday, Oct. 3 vs. UTSA. Kick is set for 11:30 a.m. CST.