UAB to Host Temple on Senior Day at Protective Stadium

Saturday, November 18

Birmingham, Ala.

2 p.m. CT

UAB

Temple

UAB to Host Temple on Senior Day at Protective Stadium

11/16/2023 3:48:00 PM | Football

UAB Game Notes vs. Temple Temple Game Notes at UAB

BIRMINGHAM – Playing its final home game of the season, the UAB football team hosts Temple on Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

The Blazers will honor 11 graduating seniors on Saturday: Demetrius Battle, Jermaine Brown Jr., Nikia Eason Jr., Michael Fairbanks II, Tyrique Howard, Fish McWilliams, Tejhuan Palmer, Matt Quinn, Samario Rudolph, Will Sorrells and Keondre Swoopes.

Who: UAB (3-7, 2-4 AAC) vs. Temple (3-7, 1-5 AAC)
Where: Protective Stadium – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Nov. 18 – 2 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN+
On The Call: James Westling (play-by-play), Leger Douzable (analyst)
Listen: WJOX 94.5
On The Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: First Meeting

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The 11 seniors who are playing their final home game will go down as some of the top players in school history. Specifically, sixth-year seniors Nikia Eason Jr., Michael Fairbanks II and Fish McWilliams were a part of UAB's only two conference championships, while Jermaine Brown Jr. just became UAB's career leader in all-purpose yards.
Brown Jr. has been one of the most dynamic players in program history and enters the Temple game as the new all-purpose yards record holder with 4,673 and counting. Brown is nine rushing yards away from moving into third place on UAB's career rushing list (currently with 2,809) and ranks fourth in rushing touchdowns (27). Additionally, he is second in both career receptions (89) and receiving yards (716) by a running back and has the fifth most kickoff return yards at UAB (1,142).
McWilliams will be playing in his school-record tying 63rd career game on Saturday and can set the new school record next Saturday in the season finale at North Texas. An outstanding nose tackle for the Blazers, McWilliams has 96 career tackles, 20 TFL and 12 sacks.
Quarterback Jacob Zeno set the single season school record for completions last week and enters the contest with 243 completions this season. Zeno ranks fourth nationally in completions per game (27.0) and is third nationally in completion percentage (74.8). With 2,595 passing yards this season, Zeno is 585 yards shy of setting the single season passing yards record and would need to average 292.5 yards per game over the last two games to accomplish that.
Freshman Amare Thomas enters the Temple game with 48 receptions this season, which is the 10th most in a single season at UAB. With two more catches, Thomas would become the freshman record holder for single season receptions, passing Frantrell Forest who had 49 catches in 2007.
The Blazer defense will have to contend with the league's top-rated passer in E.J. Warner, who is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Warner is averaging an AAC-best 302.9 passing yards per game with 2,423 total yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Temple's defense is allowing 435.1 yards and 34.9 points per game this season. The Owls have the league's bottom ranked pass efficiency defense and is allowing 242 passing yards per game.
Saturday is UAB's annual Salute to Service game and tickets can be purchased by clicking here. Fans can also participate in Tickets for Troops by purchasing a $10 ticket which will then be donated to local branches and military organizations, retired Veterans and their families.