Bones Trophy on the Line as UAB Football Hosts Memphis

Saturday, October 21

Birmingham, Ala.

11 a.m. CT

UAB

Memphis

Tickets

Bones Trophy on the Line as UAB Football Hosts Memphis

10/19/2023 8:45:00 AM | Football

UAB Game Notes vs Memphis Memphis Game Notes at UAB Tickets

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team and Memphis renew their rivalry on the gridiron in the 2023 rendition of the Battle For The Bones this Saturday, Oct. 21 at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled 11 a.m. on ESPN2.

A series that started in 1997, UAB and Memphis are meeting for the 16th time with the Blazers holding a 10-5 lead. The two teams met annually as members of Conference USA from 1999-2012 and are renewing the series in 2023 as members of the American Athletic Conference.

At stake on Saturday is the Bones Trophy, which is regarded as one of the most unique rivalry trophies in all of college football. The winning team on Saturday will keep possession of the Bones Trophy for the next year until the two meet again in 2024. There will also be a sanctioned rib cookoff outside the stadium and fans can take a picture with the Bones Trophy from 9-10 a.m. in the rib cookoff area located in front of Protective Stadium.

Who: UAB (2-5, 1-2 AAC) vs. Memphis (4-2, 1-1 AAC)
Where: Birmingham, Ala. – Protective Stadium
When: Saturday, Oct. 21 – 11 a.m.
Watch: ESPN2
On The Call: Brian Custer (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), Lauren Sisler (sideline)
Listen: 94.5 WJOX
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: UAB leads, 10-5
Last Meeting: Nov. 17, 2012 – Memphis, 46-9

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The Blazers return home to Protective Stadium where they are 2-1 this season 10-4 since the stadium opened in 2021. The Blazers are 31-5 in front of their home fans dating back to 2017.
Running back Jermaine Brown Jr. is coming off his best game of the season in which he collected 197 all-purpose yards at UTSA. Brown Jr. had his first career 100-yard receiving game with six catches for 116 yards. He also added 12 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown along with 24 kickoff return yards.
In the process, Brown Jr. moved into third place on UAB's career all-purpose yards list with 4,265, passing UAB's career leading rusher Spencer Brown. He now needs just 405 more all-purpose yards to set the school record. He also ranks third in career receptions by a running a back (79), career receiving yards by a running back (634), fifth in career rushing (2,602) and fifth in career rushing touchdowns (26). Brown's eight rushing touchdowns this season leads the AAC and ranks him ninth nationally.
Freshman wide receiver Amare Thomas continues his stellar rookie year and leads the team with 35 receptions. Thomas needs 12 more receptions to crack the top 10 for single season receptions at UAB and 15 more to set the freshman record for single season receptions.
Despite season lows in completions (13) and yards (110) at UTSA, quarterback Jacob Zeno still ranks top five nationally in completions per game (27.0), and completion percentage (74.4). Zeno's 189 completions this season currently ranks him ninth in single season completions at UAB. He has thrown for more than 235 yards in six of seven games this season.
Cornerback Colby Dempsey is coming off a career-best 10 tackles at UTSA and added a TFL and two pass breakups. Dempsey is leading the American in pass breakups with eight.
Fellow cornerback BJ Mayes had his team-leading second interception of the season at UTSA. Dempsey and Mayes are both tied for 6th in the AAC in passes defended (1.14/game).
UAB continues to lead the nation in fumble recoveries with nine. The Blazers have recovered nine of the 15 fumbles they have forced this season.
Memphis is second in the AAC in scoring offense, averaging 34 points per game. Its offense features a trio of experienced and talented players in quarterback Seth Henigan (282.2 passing yards per game), running back Blake Watson (82 att., 481 yards, 6 TD) and wide receiver Roc Taylor (34 rec., 507 yards, 2 TD).

The Blazers are on a bye following the Memphis game and then return to Protective Stadium on Nov. 4 to host Florida Atlantic. Kickoff between UAB and FAU will be announced this coming Monday, Oct. 23.

Tickets to the Memphis game on Saturday can be purchased by clicking here.

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