Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - Alex Singleton rushed for three touchdowns to
propel the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to a 49-42 victory over the UAB Blazers in an
action packed Conference USA thriller at Legion Field.
Tulsa (4-1, 2-0 C-USA) scored five rushing touchdowns in the contest. Trey
Watts gained a team-best 93 yards and scored a touchdown. Singleton finished
with 58 yards. Cody Green completed 23-of-39 passes for 237 yards and two
scores with an interception. Willie Carter reeled in seven receptions for 71
yards and a touchdown to lead the Golden Hurricane's wideouts. Daeshon Bufford
recorded eight tackles and three sacks to anchor the defense.
In his first start of the season, Austin Brown paced UAB (0-4, 0-1) by throwing
for 337 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-30 passing. Brown did see some
trouble, as he was intercepted once and sacked seven times. Jamarcus Nelson
made some huge plays along the way to 146 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Although Darrin Reaves gained 61 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, the
Blazers finished with just one rushing yard as a team.
It did not take Brown much time at all to make an impact in his first start.
The Blazers' quarterback completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to Nelson on UAB's
first play from scrimmage to give his team an early, 7-0 advantage.
However, Brown was sacked and fumbled on UAB's next possession. Tulsa took
advantage of the short field and Singleton scored on a three-yard rush on the
second play of the drive to tie up the score.
UAB came right back with a five-play, 75-yard drive which was finished off by a
5-yard pass from Brown to Patrick Hearn. The Golden Hurricane answered with a
57-yard drive and Singleton's second rushing touchdown. Tulsa took its first
lead of the game with 1:49 remaining in the first frame as Green completed a
21-yard touchdown pass to Carter which put their squad up, 21-14.
The Blazers received a boost from their special teams unit as Dere Slaughter
blocked a punt which resulted in great field position to start their next
drive. Reaves punched it in from a yard out which made it 21-21 with 13:24 to
go in the first half.
Tulsa recovered and Green produced a pair of touchdowns. First, Green completed
an 11-yard strike to Keyarris Garrett for a score through the air. Later, Green
managed to break away for a 45-yard run into the end zone which put Tulsa
ahead, 35-21 heading into halftime.
UAB inched back in the third period, as Reaves scored his second touchdown of
the day by rushing two yards across the goal line. The Golden Hurricane came
right back with a six-play, 71-yard drive which was finished off by a 10-yard
touchdown run by Watts. The score by Watts gave Tulsa a 42-28 lead as the game
progressed into its final frame.
The Blazers rallied early in the fourth quarter as Reaves scored his third
touchdown on a three-yard run with 11:12 left to play. Less than two minutes
later, Brown found Nelson for a 50-yard touchdown pass which put the contest in
a 42-42 deadlock.
Brown made a costly mistake later in the period, as he was intercepted by
DeAundre Brown, which gave Tulsa the ball at UAB's 31-yard line. The Golden
Hurricane made the most of Brown's mistake and fed Singleton the ball five
times until he scored the go-ahead touchdown.
UAB had another chance, but Brown fumbled after being sacked which ended the
Blazers' chances of a win.
The Golden Hurricane averaged 5.2 yards per carry while UAB finished with just
one rushing yard on 35 attempts.
GAME NOTES:
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