Upset Bid Falls Short in 37-27 Loss at Arkansas

Saturday, September 14

Fayetteville, AR

3:15 p.m.

UAB

1-2 , 0-0

Arkansas

2-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UAB

Arkansas

Photo by: Ken Shepherd

Upset Bid Falls Short in 37-27 Loss at Arkansas

9/14/2024 8:00:00 PM | Football

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The UAB football team battled to the very end but came up just short in a 37-27 loss to Arkansas on Saturday afternoon at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

UAB (1-2) built a 14-point first half lead to silence the 8th largest crowd in Arkansas history of 75,201 fans, but the Razorbacks (2-1) outscored UAB 17-7 in the second half for the 10-point victory.

The Blazers had 354 yards of total offense and held Arkansas, the nation's second ranked offense, to 240 yards under their season average. However, the Razorbacks still had 427 total yards with 266 coming on the ground and all four of their touchdowns were scored running the ball.

UAB's pass defense held Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green to just 11-of-26 passing for 161 yards, and through three games UAB has held opposing quarterback to just 29-of-63 passing (46 percent) and continues to be one of the top statistical pass defenses in the nation. Green was able to add 96 yards on the ground and two rushing scores, while Arkansas running back Ja'Quinden Jackson had 15 carries for 147 yards and a touchdown.

UAB quarterback Jacob Zeno had a tremendous game, completing 23-of-32 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. With UAB down 10 in the final minute, Zeno's final pass was deflected which resulted in his only interception of the contest.

Isaiah Jacobs led UAB's rushing attack with 15 carries for 62 yards, while Lee Beebe Jr. had 43 rushing yards and 49 receiving yards. Both Amare Thomas (56 yards) and Kam Shanks (31 yard) had a team-high five catches, and each had a receiving touchdown. Tight end Dallas Payne added three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown.

UAB's leading tackler Sirad Bryant had a team-high eight tackles, followed by Everett Roussaw Jr. and Tyjon Jones who each had six. Desmond Little, Joker Gill and AJ Brown all had one sack, while Adrian Maddox had a career-high three pass breakups.

The Blazers came out of the gates swinging by taking the opening drive 15 plays and 66 yards for an early 3-0 lead.

Following Michael Moore's first career interception on Arkansas' opening drive, the Blazers turned that into seven with Kam Shanks' 15-yard touchdown reception, giving UAB a 10-0 advantage.

The Blazers kept the pressure on, and following an Arkansas field goal, Jacob Zeno connected with Amare Thomas on the first play of the second quarter for a 34-yard touchdown, increasing the UAB lead to 17-3.

However, back-to-back Razorback touchdowns at the 9:17 mark and 4:48 mark tied the game at 17, and the two teams traded field goals down the stretch for a 20-20 tie at halftime.

Ja'Quinden Jackson's 16-yard touchdown opened the second half scoring and gave Arkansas their first lead of the game at 27-20 with exactly 10 minutes left in the third.

A 40-yard Arkansas field goal gave the Razorbacks a 10-point lead with 13:31 left in the game, but the Blazers continued to battle and Payne's tenacious 21-yard touchdown reception in which he shed two defenders at the goal line got UAB back within three (30-27) with 6:55 remaining.

Green increased Arkansas' lead back to 10 with a 9-yard rush with 3:36 left, and then the late interception sealed the game for the Razorbacks.

The Blazers are off next week and then return to Protective Stadium to open AAC play on Saturday, Sept. 28 vs. Navy. The game time for UAB and Navy will be released this coming Monday.