UAB and Navy Square Off in Birmingham Saturday Morning

BIRMINGHAM – The UAB football team opens American Athletic Conference play on Saturday against unbeaten Navy. Kickoff at Protective Stadium is set for 11 a.m. on ESPN2.

UAB (1-2) is hosting Navy (3-0, 2-0 AAC) in Birmingham for the first time ever, and it is also Navy's first road game of the season. The Midshipmen had three-straight home games to open the season and enter the contest in first place after a 56-44 victory over Memphis last week.

Saturday's contest is also the second annual Smile-A-Mile game in which UAB will wear their alternate black and lime jersey with the names of 100 patients from Smile-A-Mile on their backs. Located just a few blocks away from UAB's campus, Smile-A-Mile's mission is to provide hope, healing of the spirit and love for the whole family during the childhood cancer journey.

Who: UAB (1-2, 0-0 AAC) vs. Navy (3-0, 2-0 AAC)
Where: Protective Stadium (42,354) – Birmingham, Ala.
When: Saturday, Sept. 28 – 11 a.m.
Watch: ESPN2
On the Call: Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Sam Acho (analyst), Taylor Davis (sideline)
Listen: WJOX 94.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Bryant Turner (analyst), Landrum Roberts (sideline)
Series: Navy leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2023 – Navy, 31-6

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

The Blazers return to Protective Stadium for the first time in almost a month. UAB opened the season at home on Aug. 29 but since has had two road games and a bye. The Blazers are 13-5 at Protective Stadium since it opened in 2021.
Navy enters the game ranked 10th nationally in scoring offense (47.7), 4th in rushing offense (307.3) and 21st overall in total offense (470.7). They have scored no less than 38 points in every game this season.
Navy quarterback Blake Horvath is the reigning AAC Offensive Player of the Week and is coming off a game against Memphis in which he had 416 yards of total offense and six touchdowns. Horvath had 12 rushes for 211 yards and four touchdowns, while completing 9-of-12 passes for 192 yards and two additional touchdowns. He also added one catch for 13 yards against Memphis.
The Blazers will have to be sound in stopping the run against the Midshipmen. UAB has been tremendous in pass defense, ranking third nationally by allowing just 102.7 passing yards per game while holding opposing quarterbacks to complete just 29-of-63 passes (46 percent) and have not allowed a passing TD yet this year. However, the Blazers rank 113th in rush defense with an average of 197.3 yards per game.
Offensively, UAB looks to find success against a Navy defense that ranks 119th nationally by allowing an average of 436.0 yards per game. Last time out, UAB had 354 yards of offense and 27 points in SEC country at Arkansas and could have another big day on Saturday.
Jacob Zeno continues to be the most accurate passer in school history and enters the Navy game ranked 14th nationally in completion percentage at 70.8 percent. Zeno has attempted exactly 32 passes in all three games this year and has completed at least 22 in all three of those games.
Zeno has started 16 career games at UAB and ranks 4th in career completions (405), 6th in career touchdown passes (30) and 6th in career passing yards (4,464).
Kam Shanks (15 for 147) and Amare Thomas (13 for 114) continue to lead the receiving corps in catches, while tight end Dallas Payne is coming off his best career game with three catches for 33 yards and a touchdown at Arkansas.
In 15 career games, Thomas already has 66 career catches and is just 27 receptions away from moving into the top 10 for career catches at UAB. Look for the receivers to have a big game on Saturday as Navy ranks 126th nationally in passing yards allowed (289.3).

Saturday is Kids Takeover Day at Protective Stadium, and along with many exclusive opportunities for Blazer Buddies Kids Club members, the UAB Department of Athletics is running a special 2 for $20 ticket offer. Click here to redeem that offer.

Season tickets will remain on sale through the Navy game, while single game tickets are also available by clicking here.

Following the Navy game, UAB remains at home to host Tulane next Saturday, Oct. 5, at 12 p.m. on ESPN+.

UAB and Navy Square Off in Birmingham Saturday Morning

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Players Mentioned

Dallas Payne

Kam Shanks

Amare Thomas

Jacob Zeno

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics