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Despite outgaining Louisiana Tech 485-381 and outrushing the Bulldogs 338-49, the UAB Blazers fell in double overtime 37-34 in a Halloween showdown in Ruston.
The game turned out to be more trick than treat for Brycen Lucero, who only completed 7 passes for 66 yards and two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown in a very impressive way.
WOW ‼️ PICK & LATERAL pic.twitter.com/SmYw9xDOJU
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) October 31, 2020
In my preview, I noted how La Tech had a habit of creating interceptions and they did just that, causing Coach Bill Clark to bench Lucero and put in Tyler Johnston III toward the end of the game.
UAB wouldn’t lay down, as on the next play DeWayne McBride broke off a 75 yard TD run, the longest scoring run in UAB history.
DeWayne. McBride.
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 31, 2020
The freshman answers for @UAB_FB on the first play of the drive! pic.twitter.com/3adQNPXhI5
The 75 yard run helped the Blazers rack up 210 rushing yards in the first half alone. Spencer Brown added a six yard TD before halftime to put the Blazers up 14-10 with a minute before half.
Louisiana Tech would quickly march down the field for a touchdown and the 17-14 lead with :18 in the half to foreshadow the ending of the game.
The Blazers came out firing in the third quarter however, outscoring La Tech 17-0 to go up 31-17 entering the 4th. DeWayne McBride had another TD run, finishing the game with 133 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Spencer Brown added another 140 and two touchdowns.
The @UAB_FB running backs are on fire today!
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 31, 2020
McBride gets into the end zone for the second time today and the blazers are up to 260 yards on the ground! pic.twitter.com/i2sikQaiYv
Despite the running backs’ efforts, it was the defense that struggled, allowing over 200 yards passing for the first time all season and giving up the game tying score with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
In double overtime, Spencer Brown would fumble at the 1, giving La Tech a chance to put the game away.
The UAB defense would hold the Bulldogs to a field goal attempt which was missed, but a running into the kicker penalty gave kicker Jacob Barnes another chance, giving Louisiana Tech the 2OT win, 37-34.
UAB once again had a lot of penalties (12), something that at this point in the season probably won’t be cleaned up but needs to be if they want to win any close games like the one Saturday. It very well could determine if the make it to the C-USA title game.