The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

UAB Withstands Late Rally to Defeat Tulane, 28-21
9/25/2021 11:24:00 PM | Football
The Blazers (3-1) forced four Tulane (1-3) turnovers with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, one of which was on Tulane's final possession which secured the victory for UAB.
Making his first start of the season, quarterback Dylan Hopkins was 19-of-27 for 240 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Tight end Gerrit Prince had five catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his total to five on the season, while Trea Shropshire and Jermaine Brown Jr. also found the end zone.
UAB outgained the Green Wave 433-395, and along with Hopkins' 240 passing yards the Blazers also had 193 yards on the ground. DeWayne McBride led the charge with 18 carries for 111 yards, marking his first 100-yard rushing game of the season and the third of his career.
The Blazers received the ball to start the game and engineered a 15-play drive which was capped by a six yard touchdown pass from Hopkins to Prince.
On Tulane's first possession, Starling Thomas V forced and recovered a fumble to give possession back to the Blazers. UAB once again drove straight down the field but a fumble on the goal line halted the drive.
The Blazers though, kept momentum early in the second quarter as Hopkins connected with Trea Shropshire on a 65-yard bomb with 14:11 remaining in the half. After another defensive stop, UAB's next drive featured McBride who moved the Blazers deep into Tulane territory. Prince would cap the drive with his second receiving touchdown of the game at the 7:57 mark.
However, Tulane seized momentum at the end of the half with two touchdowns, one of which came with six second left, to make the score 21-14 at halftime.
It was a defensive struggle for much of the third quarter, but the Blazers found the end zone late in the stanza on a 9-yard touchdown run by Jermaine Brown Jr., bringing the score to 28-14. Brown's touchdown was set up by Starling Thomas' first interception of the season.
With Tulane driving midway through the fourth quarter, Damon Miller came up with a his first career interception deep in UAB territory in what proved to be a game-changing play to keep the score at 28-14.
Tulane would get the ball back and found the end zone with 1:57 remaining, and the Green Wave recovered the ensuing on-sides kick.
With a chance to tie the game, the Blazer defense stepped up big once again and it was Kyle Harrell who fell on the ball after Tulane Quarterback Michael Pratt fumbled. With no timeouts remaining for Tulane, the Blazers lined up inn victory formation.
Winners of two in a row, the Blazers now play their highly anticipated home opener at Protective Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 2, against Liberty in what will be a historic day for UAB Football.
Tickets are available to next Saturday's game by clicking here.
Team Stats

UAB 7, TULANE 0
UAB - Prince, Gerrit 6 yd pass from Hopkins, Dylan (Quinn, Matt kick) 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:57

UAB 14, TULANE 0
UAB - Shropshire, Tre 65 yd pass from Hopkins, Dylan (Quinn, Matt kick) 1 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:09

UAB 21, TULANE 0
UAB - Prince, Gerrit 2 yd pass from Hopkins, Dylan (Quinn, Matt kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:18

UAB 21, TULANE 7
TULANE - Wallace, Will 20 yd pass from Pratt, Michael (Glover, Merek kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:55

UAB 21, TULANE 14
TULANE - Watts, Duece 7 yd pass from Pratt, Michael (Glover, Merek kick) 11 plays, 79 yards, TOP 1:52

UAB 28, TULANE 14
UAB - Brown Jr., Jerm 9 yd run (Quinn, Matt kick), 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:19

UAB 28, TULANE 21
TULANE - Toles, Jaetavia 15 yd pass from Pratt, Michael (Glover, Merek kick) 13 plays, 85 yards, TOP 2:26