MOBILE, Ala. — UAB redshirt freshman Bryson Lucero threw for 319 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start, Spencer Brown ran for three scores and the Blazers beat South Alabama 42-10 on Thursday night at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
The game was the second at South Alabama’s new on-campus stadium. The Jaguars fell to 1-2, and UAB improved to 2-1.
Blazers Strike Early
Lucero hit Austin Watkins Jr. for 56 yards on UAB’s first offensive snap. Three Brown carries later, the Blazers led 7-0. Brown capped UAB’s next possession, a drive that included seven of his runs, with his second touchdown for a 14-0 lead with 5:26 left in the first quarter.
South Alabama opened the second quarter facing third-and-7 at its own 33. Chance Lovertich, making his first start at quarterback, completed a 29-yard pass to Jalen Wayne and, two plays later, a 38-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. UAB’s Antonio Moultrie was penalized for a hit to the head on the play and disqualified, and the extra point cut the lead to 14-7.
With the 15-yard penalty enforced on the kickoff, Diego Guajardo kicked off from midfield and executed an onside kick that Devin Voisin recovered at the UAB 43. Lovertich found Kawaan Baker for 14 yards, and a roughing-the-passer penalty moved the ball to the 13. UAB stopped two runs for no gain, and Guajardo made a 31-yard field goal to make it 14-10.
UAB Pulls Away
UAB answered immediately. Lucero converted a third-and-10 with a 39-yard pass to Watkins, and Brown finished the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. After Guajardo missed a field goal wide right, Lucero completed a 52-yard pass to Myron Mitchell and then a touchdown pass to Trea Shropshire, giving the Blazers a 28-10 halftime lead with the score coming at the 3:20 mark.
UAB did not score again until midway through the fourth quarter, when true freshman Dewayne McBride ran five times for 53 yards on the Blazers’ final scoring drive.
By the Numbers
UAB outgained South Alabama 509-315 and outrushed the Jaguars 319-168. The Blazers held the ball for 35 minutes, converted 10 of 16 third downs and held South Alabama to 3 of 12. South Alabama was penalized twice for 30 yards, while UAB was flagged 11 times for 122 yards and had two players ejected.
- Chance Lovertich: 14 of 29 for 168 yards, a touchdown and an interception in his first start.
- Carlos Davis: 105 rushing yards on 17 carries.
- Kawaan Baker: five catches for 35 yards.
- Jalen Tolbert: three catches for 59 yards and a touchdown.
- Nick Mobley: nine tackles, four solo.
- Riley Cole: South Alabama’s only sack, plus a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
For UAB, Lucero completed 18 of 28 passes. Watkins caught seven passes for 183 yards and a touchdown, Mitchell had three catches for 77 yards and Shropshire two for 8 yards and a score. Brown ran 20 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns, setting UAB’s career record for touchdowns by a running back. McBride added 64 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
Coaches React
“It’s very disappointing,” South Alabama head coach Steve Campbell said. “I thought we would play better than that. We had a hard time getting off the field early defensively, and offensively had trouble moving the ball there for a while. In the second half, we couldn’t generate any offense. It’s just disappointing.”
“We didn’t coach well, we didn’t play well,” Campbell said. “We played better than that the first two weeks, but we didn’t play well tonight.”
UAB head coach Bill Clark referenced Campbell’s pregame comments before the matchup. “Their coach said that they are going to be ready for us,” Clark said. “I heard him say that last year.”
After the game, Clark said, “This is indicative of how we practiced the last two weeks. Our guys were on a mission to come back and play who we are. Proud of our guys, that was a team effort.”
Up Next
South Alabama opens Sun Belt Conference play at home against in-state rival Troy, with a 7 p.m. CDT kickoff at Hancock Whitney Stadium on ESPNU. Troy plays at No. 18 BYU on Saturday night before beginning preparation for the Jaguars.
