UAB Falls at Tulane in AAC Opener, 35-23

Saturday, September 30

New Orleans, LA

11 a.m. CT

UAB

Tulane

UAB Falls at Tulane in AAC Opener, 35-23

9/30/2023 3:35:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score Season Stats

NEW ORLEANS – The UAB football team suffered a 35-23 loss in its American Athletic Conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Tulane.

The Blazers (1-4, 0-1 AAC) gained 434 yards of total offense, including a season-high 170 rushing yards, but Tulane had 448 yards, including 264 on the ground to lead the Green Wave (4-1, 1-0 AAC) to victory.

With UAB trailing by five with less than a minute remaining in the contest, Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt found Lawrence Keys III on 4th-and-9 for a 32-yard touchdown to ice the game.

UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno was 27-of-35 for 236 yards, and his top target was freshman Amare Thomas who finished with eight catches for 99 yards. Running back Isaiah Jacobs had career highs in carries (18), yards (95) and touchdowns (2), while Matt Quinn accounted for the rest of the scoring as he was 3-for-3 on field goals from 31, 48 and 36 yards.

Defensively, Damien Miller and Michael Moore had a team-high seven tackles, while Moore had one of UAB's four TFLs. UAB also recovered two fumbles and now has eight fumble recoveries on the season which ranks top three nationally.

Highlighted by a 35-yard end around from wide receiver Brandon Buckhaulter, the Blazers took their opening drive 65 yards in 11 plays and capped it with a 31-yard field goal from Quinn.

Tulane answered with 2:50 left in the first on a 15-yard rush from Yulkeith Brown, but UAB then tallied 17-straight points in the second quarter to surge ahead 20-7.

Jacobs scored two rushing touchdowns within a three-minute span early in the quarter, and Quinn added a season-long 48-yard field goal to cap UAB's scoring run. Jacobs' second touchdown was set up Desmond Little forcing a fumble which Nikia Eason Jr. recovered in Tulane territory.

However, Tulane scored on its final possession of the first half and the opening possession of the second half to take a 21-20 lead with 13:35 left in the third. Both Tulane touchdowns were rushing scores by Makhi Hughes, who finished the game with 123 rushing yards.

The Green Wave added to its lead with 2:50 left in the third as Pratt found tight end Alex Bauman for a 14-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone, extending Tulane's lead to 28-20.

With the Blazers trailing by eight early in the fourth, UAB drove all the way down to the Tulane 1-yard line, but Zeno fumbled on an attempted quarterback sneak which the Green Wave recovered in the end zone.

Quinn's third field goal of the game cut the Tulane lead to 28-23 with 4:52 left, but the Green Wave was able to keep possession of the ball and converted on the 4th-and-9 to secure the victory.

The Blazers return to Protective Stadium next Saturday, Oct. 7, to host USF. Kickoff is scheduled for either 2:30 or 3 p.m. and that determination will be made on Sunday.