The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, October 8
Protective Stadium
2:30 p.m.
UAB
vs
Middle Tennessee
UAB and Middle Tennessee Clash on Saturday at Protective Stadium
10/6/2022 2:17:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM – Opening a two-game home stand at Protective Stadium, the UAB football team is set to face Middle Tennessee this Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2:30 p.m. for the sixth annual Children's Harbor Homecoming game.
The Blazers will honor 92 patients this year by once again wearing the patient's last name on the back of their alternate gray and lime jersey. UAB has honored Children's Harbor every year since 2017 and has played for more than 600 patients as of this season. Along with the uniforms which are given to the patients after the game, the players and patients were able to meet on Thursday at practice.
Saturday is a critical game for the Conference USA standings as each team dropped their league opener last Saturday. UAB returns to Birmingham where the Blazers are 26-3 overall since 2017, 5-2 at Protective Stadium and winners of four-in-a-row.
Who: UAB (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) vs. Middle Tennessee (3-2, 0-1 C-USA)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Oct. 8 – 2:30 p.m.
Watch: Stadium
On The Call: Chris Hassel (play-by-play), Sed Bonner (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Tied, 4-4
Last Meeting: Dec. 1, 2018 – UAB, 27-25
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
The Blazers will honor 92 patients this year by once again wearing the patient's last name on the back of their alternate gray and lime jersey. UAB has honored Children's Harbor every year since 2017 and has played for more than 600 patients as of this season. Along with the uniforms which are given to the patients after the game, the players and patients were able to meet on Thursday at practice.
Saturday is a critical game for the Conference USA standings as each team dropped their league opener last Saturday. UAB returns to Birmingham where the Blazers are 26-3 overall since 2017, 5-2 at Protective Stadium and winners of four-in-a-row.
Who: UAB (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) vs. Middle Tennessee (3-2, 0-1 C-USA)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Oct. 8 – 2:30 p.m.
Watch: Stadium
On The Call: Chris Hassel (play-by-play), Sed Bonner (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Tied, 4-4
Last Meeting: Dec. 1, 2018 – UAB, 27-25
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
- The key battle to watch this Saturday will be UAB's rushing offense vs. Middle Tennessee's rushing defense, who are each leading Conference USA in those statistical categories.
- Paced by DeWayne McBride, who is leading the nation with an average of 173.7 rushing yards per game, the Blazers top the league with an average of 220 rushing yards per game. Conversely, Middle Tennessee allows just 107.8 rushing yards per game. Middle has held three of its five opponents under 65 rushing yards, including holding Colorado State to negative rushing (-10).
- Additionally, Middle Tennessee ranks fifth nationally in sacks per game (3.80, 19 total) and sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.4, 42 total), making this a huge opportunity for the UAB offensive line to prove they are one of the top units in Conference USA.
- However, it's the Blazers who are leading Conference USA in total defense and faces a Middle Tennessee offense that's averaging 33.0 points per game. Aside from its opening loss at James Madison, Middle has scored over 30 points in each of its last four games, including 45 points in a win at Miami (FL).
- UAB boasts the nation's second ranked pass defense and are holding opponents to just a 51.2 completion percentage and 647 total passing yards this season (161.8/game). This unit will be tested against a high-tempo offense that throws the ball almost 36 times per game.
- UAB quarterback Dylan Hopkins is completing 68.5 percent of his passes this season and is coming off a season-high 231 passing yards and two touchdowns at Rice.
- His top two targets last week were Trea Shropshire and Tejhaun Palmer, who each had season-highs in receiving yards. Shropshire had four catches for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Palmer hauled in two catches for 82 yards. Shropshire and Palmer look to play a big role this Saturday for UAB to come out on top.
- Linebacker Noah Wilder continues to inch closer to becoming just the fourth player in school history to surpass 300 career tackles. Wilder enters Saturday's contest with 270 tackles and is four tackles away from eight place and six tackles away from seventh place on UAB's career top 10 list.
For more information on the UAB football team, be sure to follow @UAB_FB on Twitter and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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