UAB Falls to Liberty in Protective Stadium Opener, 36-12

Saturday, October 2

Birmingham, Ala.

6 p.m. CST

UAB

3-2 , 1-0

Liberty

4-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Liberty

UAB

UAB Falls to Liberty in Protective Stadium Opener, 36-12

10/2/2021 10:15:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team suffered a 36-12 loss to Liberty in Saturday night's stadium opener at Protective Stadium.

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis sparked a second-half surge for the Flames with two rushing touchdowns and a passing score in the third quarter. Willis finished with 431 total yards and three touchdowns, accounting for 431 of Liberty's 544 yards.

The Flames scored 33 of their 36 points in the second half.

UAB (3-2) kicker Matt Quinn tallied the first points in Protective Stadium with 10:44 remaining in the first quarter, splitting the uprights for a 37-yard field goal. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins connected with tight end Gerrit Prince for completions of 22 yards and 8 yards to move the Blazers into the red zone.

Liberty (4-1) tied Saturday night's contest with 8:54 remaining in the second quarter, converting a 21-yard field goal. After Willis scrambled for a 9-yard gain to the UAB 3-yard line, the Blazers allowed just a single yard on the next three plays to force Liberty to the short field goal attempt.

UAB's offense then went three and out on its next position, giving the ball back to Liberty at its own 30-yard line. Quarterback keepers of 20 yards and 19 yards from Willis once again positioned the Flames inside the UAB red zone with a goal-to-go situation, which is when outside linebacker Michael Fairbanks II stepped up to force a fumble on Liberty running back Joshua Mack.

Right as Mack reached for the goal line, Fairbanks II knocked the ball loose. Safety Jaylen Key picked up the ball in the end zone and returned it to the UAB 20-yard line to keep the Flames out of end zone. Key just missed out on a 100-yard return as he needed to avoid one more tackle before breaking into the open field.

With the score tied at 3-3 entering the second half, the Flames jumped out to a quick start in the third quarter, tallying touchdowns on back-to-back offensive plays to build a 17-3 lead less than five minutes into the third stanza. Willis broke free on third-and-goal for a rushing touchdown before connecting with wide receiver CJ Daniels for a 39-yard touchdown on the first play of Liberty's next offensive possession.

Liberty tacked on touchdown scores with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter and 12:45 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend its lead to 30-3.

Following a Liberty touchdown with 6:21 remaining in the final quarter, UAB's Nikia Eason Jr. blocked the extra point and Mac McWilliams returned it for two points the other way with an 83-yard return.

Blazer running back Jermaine Brown Jr. broke the century mark after his 59-yard rushing touchdown marked UAB's first touchdown in Protective Stadium with 4:53 remaining in the fourth quarter.

UAB returns to its new home Saturday with a Conference USA matchup against Florida Atlantic (3-2, 1-0 C-USA). Kickoff at Protective Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.