UAB drops to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in C-USA.
The UAB football team has lost three games this season by a combined 14 points and there exists a universal commonality between all three one-possession outcomes.The Blazers gave the ball away twice in each half to deflate an inspired and cutthroat defensive performance in a 20-17 loss to Western Kentucky, Friday, Oct. 21, at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Without a doubt, turnovers are the Achilles Heel for a UAB offense built as a possessive unit, employing the nation’s leader in yards per game , DeWayne McBride, to power a top-10 rushing attack. The Blazers have given up 10 turnovers in their losses, forcing three for a minus-7 ratio, and McBride is responsible for two fumbles each in games at Liberty and Western Kentucky.
The second fumble of the game for McBride, proving the most fatal, came with less than four minutes remaining in the third frame. Gaining a first down on a 7-yard carry, McBride refused to be brought down by mere mortals and waited a bit too long in doing so as Hailassie stripped the ball from his hands and JACK linebacker Jaques Evans recovered and returned the fumble 29 yards to the UAB 6-yard line.
UAB’s next two opportunities to retake the lead failed in three-and-out fashion, but backup quarterback Jacob Zeno, who replaced an injured Dylan Hopkins in the first quarter, led the Blazers on one final drive with an opportunity to either tie or win the game.