SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 4, 2014
Alabama-Birmingham 42, Western Kentucky 39: Jordan
Howard ran for a career-high 183 yards and two touchdowns as the Blazers
upended the host Hilltoppers.
Alabama Birmingham (3-2, 1-1 Conference USA),
which overcame three turnovers and won for only the second time in its last 10
road games, also received a 22-of-25, 300-yard, two-touchdown passing
performance from Cody Clements. The Blazers trailed 27-14 at halftime but
scored 28 points and rolled up 381 yards, including 213 on the ground, in the
second half.
Anthony Wales ran for a career-high 138 yards and
three TDs for Western Kentucky (2-3, 0-2), the former Sun Belt Conference program
which lost its Conference USA home debut. Brandon Doughty, who entered the
contest as the FBS total offense leader at 458 yards per game, was 25-of-37 for
319 yards and two touchdowns and rushed three times for 16 yards.
Howard scored on a 1-yard run to finish UABกฏs
opening drive of the second half, and Clements capped the teamกฏs ensuing two possessions
with a 5-yard TD run and a 75-yard scoring strike to Josh Magee to give the
Blazers a 35-27 lead with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter. The Hilltoppers
stormed back in front, 39-35, on a 24-yard Doughty-to-Antwane Grant scoring
pass and an 85-yard interception return by safety Ricardo Singh, but Howard capped
the Blazersกฏ ensuing 86-yard drive with a 15-yard scoring run and UAB ran out
the final 4:03 after stopping Western Kentuckyกฏs last drive at the Blazersกฏ
33-yard line.
J.J. Nelson got the Blazers off to a roaring
start, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, but the
Hilltoppers responded with a touchdown reception by Taywan Taylor and Walesกฏ first
TD, a 2-yard run. UAB tied it at 14 on Clementsกฏ 24-yard scoring toss to
Kennard Backman, but Wales closed out the first-half scoring with 75- and
21-yard scoring bursts to put the hosts ahead 27-14 at the half.