UAB Defense Dominates in 31-14 Victory Over Florida Atlantic

Saturday, October 9

Birmingham, Ala.

2:30 p.m. CST

UAB

4-2 , 2-0

Florida Atlantic

3-3 , 1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Fla. Atlantic

UAB

UAB Defense Dominates in 31-14 Victory Over Florida Atlantic

10/9/2021 7:02:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Postgame Notes vs. Florida Atlantic Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM – A record-setting pick six from safety Grayson Cash helped lead the UAB football team to a 31-14 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium.

With the Blazers holding a narrow 17-14 lead with less than a minute remaining in the first half, Cash intercepted a pass from Florida Atlantic quarterback N'kosi Perry inside UAB's own end zone and returned it 100 yards the other direction for momentum-shifting score. The Owls snapped the ball at UAB's 9-yard line before Cash drifted over to snag Perry's throw and take it the distance.

Cash's 100-yard pick six marked the longest interception return for a touchdown in program history. Former Blazer Marquis Coleman recorded a 99-yard pick six for the Green and Gold at UTEP in 2009. It also tied a C-USA record for longest interception return, becoming the 11th player in league history to do so.

The Blazers (4-2, 2-0 C-USA) dominated FAU (3-3, 1-1 C-USA) on the defensive side of the ball, recording eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss and tying a season-high with four takeaways (three interceptions, one fumble recovery). Alex Wright led the charge with seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Quarterback Dylan Hopkins paced the offense with 173 passing yards and two touchdowns, while adding 32 rushing yards and an additional score. UAB outgained FAU 306-291 for the game.

Before Cash's game-changing interception, the Blazers built an early 14-0 lead behind a pair of turnovers in the first quarter. Hopkins led the Blazers on a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the scoring on UAB's first drive, hitting wide receiver Samario Rudolph for a 25-yard score on third down.

After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Noah Wilder intercepted Perry's first pass attempt of the game to set the Blazers up in the red zone. Despite coming up empty handed due to a blocked field goal attempt, the Blazers kept Owls pinned deep in their own territory.

On FAU's second offensive play of the game, Wright forced a fumble before teammate Will Boler recovered the ball to set up the Blazers inside the Florida Atlantic red zone once again. With another short field, UAB cashed in with a 15-yard touchdown strike from Hopkins for Trea Shropshire to double its lead to 14-0 less than seven minutes into the opening quarter.

FAU fought back to tie the game on a 1-yard run from Perry in the first quarter and a 2-yard receiving touchdown from Perry to Aaron Shahriari at the 8:12 mark of the first half.

Matt Quinn tied his career-long with a 48-yard field goal to give UAB a 17-14 lead, and with FAU driving late in the half, that is when Cash changed the game to give UAB a 24-14 lead with :30 remaining before halftime.

Hopkins would add a touchdown with 2:50 remaining in the third quarter for the only points of the second half.

The Blazers are now 26-7 and seven against Conference USA opponents since returning to action in 2017 and remain at the top of the C-USA West standings at 2-0 this season.

UAB is on the road next weekend at Southern Miss. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST on Stadium.