UAB Defeats Memphis 31-15 in Birmingham

Saturday, November 20

Birmingham, AL

3:00 PM

University of Memphis

1-10 , 0-7

University of Alabama at Birmingham

4-7 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

MEMPHIS

UAB

Marcus Rucker hauled in one touchdown to go with four catches and 90 yards.

Nov 20, 2010 | Football

Box Score

Nov. 20, 2010

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By: Preston McClellan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.--Memphis had its chances, but UAB (4-8; 3-4 C-USA) was too much behind Bryan Ellis' 361 yards and three touchdowns as the Blazers defeated the Tigers 31-15 Saturday at Legion Field in the "Battle for the Bones."

Memphis had solid offensive production, but turnovers again proved key in the loss. Ryan Williams led the way for the Tigers, throwing for 228 yards on 16-of-31 passing with one touchdown and one interception.

Jerrell Rhodes led the team with 85 yards rushing on 11 carries with an average rush of 7.7 yards. It is his second highest career rushing total with his high being 90 yards against UTEP earlier this season, and the 7.7-yard average is a career best.

It didn't take long for the Blazers to get on the board as they took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in nine plays and 2:48 to take an early 7-0 advantage at the 12:12 mark. Ellis found Jeffrey Anderson for a 52-yard connection down the sideline.

The Tigers responded with the first of Paulo Henriques' three field goals on the day. Memphis (1-10; 0-7 C-USA) drove 43 yards in 11 plays and five minutes before the sophomore kicker knocked it through the uprights from 44 yards out to narrow the margin to 7-3 with 7:04 remaining in the first quarter.

The Tiger defense held the UAB offense in check on the following possession, but a muffed punt resulted in a turnover and gave the ball back to the Blazers at the Tiger 25-yard line. UAB capitalized and scored two plays later on a one-yard touchdown run from Pat Shed and went ahead 14-3 with 2:25 remaining in the first quarter.

Shed finished with 125 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries to go along with two catches for 63 yards and a score through the air.

UAB then extended its advantage to 17-3 at the 10:24 mark of the second quarter on the first and only field goal of the day by Josh Zahn from 25 yards out.

Memphis responded with a field goal of its own as Henriques booted his second 40-plus field goal of the day, this one from 43 yards out to bring Memphis within 17-6. Henriques has converted his last five attempts from more than 40 yards.

The Blazers scored another touchdown before the break to extend their advantage to 24-6 as Ellis tossed his second touchdown of the day, this time finding Shed out of the backfield for a 54-yard strike.

After a 35-yard return on the ensuing kickoff by D.A. Griffin, Memphis capitalized on the good field position by marching 39 yards in seven plays and 39 yards to set up Henriques' third field goal of the half. He knocked it through the uprights from 36 yards out to make the score 24-9 at the break. The 35-yard kickoff return was the longest on the season for Memphis.

Both offenses stalled on the opening drives of the second half, but the Tigers narrowed the gap on its second drive of the half. Marcus Rucker hauled in two catches on the drive, including a touchdown grab, for 48 yards to lead the Tigers into the endzone for its only touchdown of the game.

Rucker finished the game with 90 yards and one touchdown on four catches. It was Rucker's seventh touchdown of the season and ninth of his career. It was Williams' 11 TD pass this season. Rucker has scored in three of the last five games, and has five TDs in that span as he logged multiple TDs against USM and Tennessee.

Memphis attempted a two-point conversion in hopes of making it a one possession game, but failed and found itself down 24-15 with 7:20 remaining in the third quarter.

After Tom Hornsey pinned UAB on its own one-yard line, the Blazers blazed through the Tiger defense, going 99 yards in four plays and 1:30, capped by a 72-yard connection from Ellis to Patrick Hearn to put the Blazers ahead 31-15.

Hornsey finished the day with a 42.8 average on five punts and had two downed inside the 20-yard line.

The Tigers had an opportunity to cut into the lead in the fourth quarter when Marcus Ball made his second interception of the day and returned it 63 yards to the UAB seven-yard line. Memphis failed to score, however, and turned the ball over on downs four plays later.

Jamon Hughes continued to lead the defense in tackles, registering 17 stops today. He has led the team in tackles in 10 of the 11 games this season, and totals seven games of double-digit stops this season.

Junior Terrence Thomas made his first career start today. He started at linebacker for DeRon Furr, who did not make the trip because of an injury. Thomas logged a career-high 12 tackles in today's game and had four tackles for loss, totaling 21 yards. The four TFL's is tied for fourth in school history with 13 other players. The last player to record four TFLs was Clinton McDonald against Arkansas State in 2008.

The Tigers wrap up the 2010 campaign next Saturday against UCF. The 21 seniors on this year's roster will be honored prior to the game. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. and the game will be televised on CSS.