UAB Football defeats SSU in the first game of the season
Christopher Booz
Sports Reporter
haiti101@uab.edu
Once again, the rows at Legion Field were filled with green, gold and cheers of Blazer pride. Kicking off into the season, UAB Blazers enter another year with the reacquired football program, defeating the Savannah State Tigers 52-0, on Thursday August 30.
The Blazers dominated through their offensive rushing and passing game, complemented by a strong defense. The Blazers dominated through their offensive rushing and passing game, complemented by a strong defense. Coming back from a record-setting 8-5 season in its first year, the Blazers wasted no time to show up and show out. UAB scored on a 34-yard interception return and rushed for four touchdowns.
A.J. Erdely was 22-of-28 for 228 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Within the first quarter, UAB scored only a few minutes into the game after SSU elected to differ the toss, which gave UAB first possession. On the opening drive, UAB totaled 70 yards on this possession, Spencer Brown had 41 yards on five carries and scored the first touchdown. The Tigers attempted a comeback just for 26 totals yards and a punt. On their very next possession, they forced two turnovers, one fumble and an interception.
In the second quarter, Blazer offense showed a slight regress but not the same goes for the defense. Linebacker Chris Woolbright had a pick-six midway through the quarter and corner Brontae Harris received his second career interception on a dropped pass.
The Blazers continued with a 19-yard run from Brown, a 12-yard pass from Erdely to Kendall Parham and a 14-yard catch by Andre Wilson for a touchdown. In the same quarter, the quarterback completed 8-of-10 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown before halftime. Returning to the field, UAB defense held Tigers to several more stops and scored twice on wide receiver Lisa’s 11-yard touchdown catch on the Blazers’ opening possession of the second half and another score by kicker Nick Vogel on a 23-yard field goal.
Lisa had four catches for 36 yards on the drive and Vogel shook the crowd booting the ball through the end zone, which led to no returns throughout the whole game. The Tigers began the final quarter punting to the Blazers, who drove 70 yards and capped the drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown from Lucious Stanley.
The game was out of reach, third-string quarterback Tyler Johnston III was sent in to close for the final scoring drives that ended with Stanley’s touchdown run and a six-yard touchdown run from James Noble III.
Next, UAB will go up against Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Saturday, September 8, at 6 p.m.
