The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
3-9 , 2-6
Charlotte
5-7 , 4-4
UAB Falls to Charlotte 29-27 in Season Finale
11/30/2024 7:13:00 PM | Football
UAB (3-9, 2-6 AAC) found itself trailing by nine with 5:12 remaining, but fought back two get within two, then forced a three-and-out. The Blazers marched down the field and set up a game-winning field goal attempt on the final play, but it was no good.
Jalen Kitna threw for 280 yards and three touchdowns in the loss and his top target was Corri Milliner who had a career day with seven catches for 126 yards and a touchdown. Running back Lee Beebe Jr. had 102 all-purpose yards (82 rushing, 20 receiving) while scoring both a rushing and a receiving touchdown.
Everett Roussaw Jr. and OC Brothers shared a team-high six tackles and UAB's defense held Charlotte quarterback Deshawn Purdie to just 9-of-26 passing, but his nine completions went for 215 yards (23.9 per attempt).
Charlotte (5-7, 4-4 AAC) struck first on a 7-yard rush from Hahsaun Wilson to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter. UAB responded with 12:08 left in the half as Kam Shanks scored on a 12-yard pass from Kitna to even the score. For Shanks, it was his sixth receiving touchdown of the season.
With Charlotte leading 10-7 following a 21-yard field goal with 1:56 left in the first half, Kitna engineered a 2-minute drive to perfection which resulted in a 26-yard touchdown pass to Milliner with :20 remaining. The 49ers were able to tack on a field goal as time expired for a 14-13 UAB lead at the break.
Charlotte regained the lead with 4:29 left in the third quarter as Cartevious Norton capped an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run which gave the 49ers a 19-14 lead following a failed 2-point conversion attempt.
UAB then got down to the 1-yard line with a 25-yard catch from Amare Thomas late in the third, and three plays later Kitna threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Beebe Jr. UAB's 2-point conversion was also no good, but the Blazers took a 20-19 lead with 14:20 left in the game.
The game would then see its fourth lead change as Charlotte converted its third field goal of the game to regain a 22-20 advantage with 9:29 left in the fourth.
O'Mega Blake then hauled in a 46-yard touchdown to give Charlotte a 29-20 lead with 5:12 left, but Beebe's 1-yard rush with 2:57 got the score back to 29-27.
The Blazers' defense got the defensive stops needed to get the ball back to the offense, and Kitna marched UAB right down the field to set up the game winner, but the kick was pushed left and Charlotte held on for the victory.
Team Stats
UAB 0, CLT 7
CLT - Wilson,Hahsaun 7 yd run (Cunanan,Kyle kick), 7 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:33
UAB 7, CLT 7
UAB - Shanks,Kam 12 yd pass from Kitna,Jalen (Delange,Jonah kick) 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:56
UAB 7, CLT 10
CLT - Cunanan,Kyle 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 85 yards, TOP 04:40
UAB 14, CLT 10
UAB - Milliner,Corri 26 yd pass from Kitna,Jalen (Delange,Jonah kick) 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 01:28
UAB 14, CLT 13
CLT - Cunanan,Kyle 30 yd field goal 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 00:20
UAB 14, CLT 19
CLT - Norton,Cartevious 1 yd run (), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:12
UAB 20, CLT 19
UAB - Beebe Jr.,Lee 11 yd pass from Kitna,Jalen () 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:09
UAB 20, CLT 22
CLT - Cunanan,Kyle 31 yd field goal 9 plays, 61 yards, TOP 04:51
UAB 20, CLT 29
CLT - Blake,O'Mega 46 yd pass from Purdie,Deshawn (Cunanan,Kyle kick) 4 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:35
UAB 27, CLT 29
UAB - Beebe Jr.,Lee 1 yd run (Delange,Jonah kick), 5 plays, 70 yards, TOP 02:10
