UAB Rides Wave of North Texas Turnovers to Easy C-USA Win.

Two weeks ago UAB gave up 20 points on turnovers in a home loss against FIU. The Blazers had been favored to win that game which was their C-USA opener. Two weeks later following a road win over Western Kentucky the Blazers found themselves as home favorites again. This time they proved the experts right by dominating the turnover battle against the North Texas Mean Green.

In the first quarter North Texas freshman QB Dajon Williams was stripped of the football while trying to reach the edge and turn up field on what appeared to be developing into a promising offensive drive for North Texas. UAB defensive lineman Jontavius Morris would scoop up the ball and rumble to the end zone to give the Blazers a 7-0 lead. Exactly 12 seconds later Williams would throw an interception to UAB's LaMarcus Farmer who returned the pick for a 22 yard touchdown. UAB never looked back on their way to improving to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in C-USA.

After having some second quarter success including a 12 yard TD toss, Williams would throw another interception for a touchdown after Blazer corner back Darius Williams scampered 9 yards to pay dirt. The very next drive Williams would fumble a pitch attempt that was recovered by Farmer. That turnover would lead to a six play 31 yard drive that was capped off by a 1 yard TD run by UAB quarterback Cody Clements.

The day would further signal a turn around that has been shaping up all season for a vastly improved Blazer defense. UAB's defense would help create an astonishing 35 points in this C-USA match up. The Blazers had entered the game with a -8 turnover margin that was dead last in C-USA and 117th overall in the country. That turnover margin went all the way down to -3 for the Blazers after they forced five Mean Green turnovers. This was the most turnovers forced by a Blazer defense since their 2011 match up at East Carolina.

Clements would have his second straight career best passing day as he accumulated 316 yards passing along with 2 touchdowns to go along with his rushing TD and 24 yards on the ground. JaMarcus Nelson would be the target of four of those catches for the Blazers on his way to amassing 104 yards and a TD.

Jimmerson would pace the Mean Green offense with 104 yards rushing that included a touchdown. After his 4th turnover Williams would be benched in favor of Junior QB Andrew McNulty who came in and threw for 167 yards and a touchdown.

UAB will return to action on the road next week at Middle Tennessee State in a key C-USA east match up. The Mean Green who fell to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in C-USA will return home looking for their first conference win in a match up with Southern Miss.