UAB's Webb rolls in loss to Pirates

UAB Blazers 2009 ... Head Coach: Neil Callaway

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 4-8
2009 Record: 4-6

9/5 Rice W 44-24
9/12 SMU L 35-33
9/19 at Troy L 27-14
9/26 at Texas A&M L 56-19
10/1 Southern Miss W 30-17
10/10 OPEN DATE
10/17 at Ole Miss L 48-13
10/24 at Marshall L 27-7
10/31 at UTEP W 38-33
11/7 Fla Atlantic W 56-29
11/14 at Memphis W 31-21
11/21 at East Carolina L 37-21
11/28 UCF

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 2-10
2008 Record: 4-8

8/30 Tulsa L 45-22
9/6 at Florida Atlantic L 49-24
9/13 at Tennessee L 35-3
9/20 Alabama State W 45-10
9/27 at So Carolina L 26-13
10/2 Memphis L 33-30
10/11 at Houston L 45-20
10/18 Marshall  W 23-21
10/25 OPEN DATE
11/1 at Southern Miss L 70-14
11/8 OPEN DATE
11/15 at Tulane W 41-24
11/22 East Carolina L 17-13
11/29 at UCF W 15-0

UAB Blazers

Nov. 21
at East Carolina 37 … UAB 21
East Carolina overcame a big day from UAB QB Joe Webb to win easily and come within a game a playing for the Conference USA title game. The Pirates got scoring grabs from 23 and 59 yards out from Dwayne Harris in the first quarter, and Ben Hartman hit three second quarter field goals for a 23-3 lead. Patrick Pinkney threw his third touchdown pass of the game with a 59-yard play to Darryl Freeney to put the game away. UAB came up with two Webb touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but Harris was able to answer one of them with a kickoff return for a score.
Player of the Game: East Carolina WR Dwayne Harris caught eight passes for 108 yards and two score, and return a kickoff for a score.
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 19-27, 247 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Joe Webb, 25-132, Receiving: Frantrell Forrest, 3-59, 1 TD
East Carolina: Passing: Patrick Pinkney, 20-25, 250 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Dominique Lindsay, 18-45, Receiving: Dwayne Harris, 8-108, 2 TD 
What It All Means: It’s the same old story as Joe Webb is carrying the team and isn’t getting a lot of help. UAB is still in the mix for bowl eligibility and still has a chance at closing out strong with UCF coming into town this week, but to beat the hot Knights, Webb will have to go ballistic and the defense will have to handle the sudden UCF balance. The defense is among the worse in the nation, especially against the pass, and it’ll likely be a shootout.

Nov. 14
at UAB 31 … Memphis 21
Joe Webb connected with Frantrell Forrest on touchdown passes from 12 and 26 yards out, he ran for a 15-yard score, and threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Nick Adams on the way to a 31-7 lead. Memphis kept fighting and scored 14 points in the fourth on short runs from Curtis Steele and Brett Toney. The two teams combined for 719 passing yards.
Player of the Game: UAB QB Joe Webb completed 18-of-25 passes for 378 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 21 times for 52 yards and a score.
Memphis: Passing: Will Hudgens, 26-41, 333 yds
Rushing: Curtis Steele, 20-107, 2 TD, Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 4-79
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 18-25, 378 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Joe Webb, 21-52, 1 TD, Receiving: Frantrell Forrest, 7-129, 2 TD
What It All Means: Case Keenum will win the Conference USA awards, but Joe Webb might be the MVP. The Blazers wouldn’t be close if Webb wasn’t fantastic game in and game out, and now on a three-game winning streak and at 5-5, a bowl game is there for the taking needing to beat East Carolina and UCF. The Blazers aren’t good enough defensively to win those two games, but with two wins, they’ll be playing for the Conference USA title. Webb might be good enough to carry the team to something special. 

Nov. 7
at UAB 56 … Florida Atlantic 29
Joe Webb threw four touchdown passes and tore off touchdown runs from 65 and two yards out as UAB exploded for a win. The Blazers came up with 622 yards of total offense and got up 28-7, but FAU bombed its way back into the game with three Jeff Van Camp touchdown passes and a five-yard scoring run. UAB was able to pull away on the third quarter on a two-yard Daniel Borne run and two Frantrell Forrest touchdown catches from 24 and 17 yards out as part of a 21-point run.
Player of the Game: UAB QB Joe Webb completed 14-of-19 passes for 292 yards and four scores, and ran 15 times for 120 yards and two touchdowns.
Florida Atlantic: Passing: Jeff Van Camp, 24-36, 254 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Alfred Morris, 12-60, Receiving: Cortez Gent, 5-48, 1 TD
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 14-19, 292 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Joe Webb, 15-120, 2 TD, Receiving: Frantrell Forrest, 3-69, 2 TD
What It All Means: Joe Webb is amazing. The Blazers were more than just their quarterback in the win over Florida Atlantic, Rashaud Slaughter ran well on his four chances, there were several players involved with ten players getting carries and eight players making grabs. Because of Webb and because the offense is moving well, there’s still a chance to come up with wins in the final three games to get in the mix for a bowl game and a winning season, but the defense, especially the nation’s worst pass defense, is going to have problems next week against Memphis. 

Oct. 31
UAB 38 … at UTEP 33
Joe Webb threw two touchdown passes, ran for a 53-yard score, and caught a 14-yard touchdown pass as UAB overcame 607 yards of UTEP offense for the win. The Blazers forced three turnovers Marquis Coleman taking an interception 99 yards for the first score of the game, but that was about all the D did right. UTEP’s Donald Buckram scored on a 26-yard run and a 30-yard catch in the second quarter and pulled the Miners within five on a two-yard run with 1:12 to play, but the Miners held on.
Player of the Game: UAB QB Joe Webb completed 8-of-15 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 20 times for 163 yards and a score. He also caught a touchdown pass.
UTEP: Passing: Trevor Vittatoe, 23-44, 397 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Donald Buckram, 28-164, 2 TD, Receiving: Jeff Moturi, 7-161
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 8-15, 127 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Joe Webb, 20-163, 1 TD, Receiving: Mark Ferrell, 2-52 
What It All Means: Lamanski Ware made 14 tackles but the defense went bye-bye getting ripped apart by the UTEP passing game and having problems with RB Donald Buckram. Even so, the Blazers got the win by being opportunistic and by getting a huge day from Joe Webb … again. With winnable games against Florida Atlantic and Memphis up next, the Blazers can put themselves in a position for bowl consideration, but with the defense playing this poorly, getting by East Carolina will be a problem.

Oct. 24
at Marshall 27 …. UAB 7
Marshall got up 17-0 in the first half helped by two Brian Anderson touchdown passes hitting Cody Slate for a 30-yarder and Chuck Walker from 15 yards out, and the defense did the rest. UAB came up with a 12-yard Mark Ferrell touchdown catch at the end of the first half, but 15 penalties and an inability to stay on the field, missing third down chance after third down chance, and Marshall took advantage. Darius Marshall ran for a one-yard score for the Herd in the third quarter.
Player of the Game: Marshall RB Darius Marshall ran 32 times for 133 yards and a score.
UAB: Passing: Joseph Webb, 16-27, 200 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Joseph Webb, 18-129, Receiving: Mark Ferrell, 5-60, 1 TD
Marshall: Passing: Brian Anderson, 25-38, 315 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Darius Marshall, 32-133, 1 TD, Receiving: Chuck Walker, 5-108, 1 TD 
What It All Means: UAB isn’t going to change the offense from being the Joe Webb show all the time, but the defense isn’t providing any help. Marshall was able to do whatever it wanted to through the air, and Darius Marshall ran well on the ground, keeping the Blazers from ever having any control. With a trip to UTEP up next, the Conference USA season all hinges on the performance. Lose that, and the season is over with road games against Memphis and East Carolina still to deal with.

Oct. 17
at Ole Miss 48 … UAB 13
Jesse Grandy returned the opening kickoff for an Ole Miss touchdown, but the Rebels got off to a sluggish start. And then everything clicked in the second quarter as Rodney Scott ran for scores from one and 25 yards out, and Jevan Snead connected with Lionel Breaux for a 20-yard score. The Rebels got out to a 41-0 lead, helped by two Snead third quarter touchdown passes including a 65-yarder to Markeith Summers, and then UAB finally got on the board with a three-yard Joe Webb run. Webb ran for 121 yards for the Blazers, but he and the offense couldn’t keep up with 501 yards of Ole Miss offense.
Player of the Game: Ole Miss QB Jevan Snead completed 15-of-22 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 9-15, 89 yds
Rushing: Joe Webb, 17-121, 1 TD, Receiving: Roddell Carter, 2-50
Ole Miss: Passing: Jevan Snead, 15-22, 240 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Rodney Scott, 9-57, 2 TD, Receiving: Shay Hodge, 7-99 
What It All Means: Ole Miss was focused and fired up, so there’s no reason to be too upset about the loss, but the offense didn’t get moving until it was way too late. Joe Webb was under pressure all game long, but he still managed to run well and he still kept the Rebel defense on its heels. While this loss was rough, the Blazers are still 2-1 in conference play and have to get back on track at Marshall.

Oct. 1
at UAB 30 … Southern Miss 17
Joe Webb ran for 138 yards including a 31-yard touchdown, and he threw a 21-yard touchdown pass as UAB stunned Southern Miss. The wounded Golden Eagles fought throughout with Austin Davis connecting with Quentin Pierce for touchdowns from 41 and 20 yards away, but UAB scored the final ten points in the span of 22 seconds with Hiram Atwater sealing the deal with a 40-yard interception return for a score. Josh Zahn hit three field goals for the Blazers including a 51-yarder.
Player of the Game: UAB S Hiram Atwater led the team with ten tackles with an interception for a 40-yard score.
Southern Miss: Passing: Austin Davis, 24-32, 234 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Tory Harrison, 11-66, Receiving: Gerald Baptiste, 8-74
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 6-13, 23 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Joe Webb, 24-138, 1 TD, Receiving: Rashad Slaughter, 2- -3
What It All Means: Joe Webb might be the total offense, but that’s enough at times. The UAB offense struggled mightily to throw the ball, amassing only 23 yards, but Webb made the ground game work while the defense stuffed a punchless Southern Miss team time and again. USM was able to throw, but there was a lot of dinking and dunking and wasn’t able to take control of the game. The Blazers desperately needed this win with three road games coming up next starting out with a trip to Ole Miss in two weeks.

Sept. 26
at Texas A&M 56 … UAB 19
Jerrod Johnson ran for three scores and threw for three touchdown passes as the Aggies rolled up 544 yards on the way to a dominant win. UAB couldn’t stop the A&M attack after the first quarter, and only managed two Josh Zahn field goals before finally getting into the end zone on a ten-yard Joe Webb run. But the Aggies blew the game open with a six-yard catch from Ryan Swope and a 16-yard Bradley Stephens run. UAB committed 11 penalties, while A&M committed three.
Player of the Game: Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson completed 23-of-29 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 14 times for 61 yards and three scores.
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 8-18, 60 yds
Rushing: David Isabelle, 4-93, 1 TD, Receiving: Jeffery Anderson, 2-22
Texas A&M: Passing: Jerrod Johnson, 23-29, 290 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Cyrus Gray, 19-99, 1 TD, Receiving: Howard Morrow, 5-71 
What It All Means: Just when the Blazers should be improving, their taking a step back. Joe Webb is being bottled up and no one else is picking up the slack. The secondary is getting roads, the offense can’t throw, and the special teams have been a disappointment. Up next is Southern Miss, and UAB has to take advantage of the home oasis after playing two games on the road and with three more coming after. To have any shot, the pass defense has to come up with a new wrinkle or the Eagles will throw for well over 300 yards.

Sept. 19
at Troy 27 … UAB 14
Levi Brown bombed away for 413 yards with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tebiarus Gill in the second quarter and a 63-yarder to Chip Reeves in the third to give Troy a 17-3 lead. A DuJuan Harris 22-yard TD run gave the Trojans breathing room, but UAB tried to fight back with a 17-yard Jeffery Anderson scoring grab in the fourth. Sam Glusman’s second field goal kept Troy safety ahead.
Player of the Game: Troy QB Levi Brown completed 24-of-32 passes for 413 yards and two touchdowns with an interception.
Troy: Passing: Levi Brown, 24-32, 412 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: DuJuan Harris, 18-61, 1 TD, Receiving: Chip Reeves, 5-95, 1 TD
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 14-27, 114 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Joe Webb, 19-76, Receiving: Mark Ferrell, 4-29
What It All Means: UAB has always relied on Joe Webb to carry the offense, but someone else has to start producing to help out the offensive cause. The defense didn’t do much of anything against the Troy passing game, and now it’s going to get bombed on by Texas A&M unless Webb and the running game can control the game and crank out long drives. There wasn’t nearly enough pressure into the backfield and the secondary gave up big play after big play against a passing attack that isn’t good enough to be cranking out 413 yards. If the D is going to do that, the offense has to start doing far more.

Sept. 12
SMU 35 ... at UAB 33
The failed two-point conversion attempt snuffed out a UAB rally after Jeffery Anderson got the Blazers within two with 13 seconds to play. SMU held a 28-7 lead  at halftime thanks to three touchdown passes from Bo Levi Mitchell, but UAB came roaring back with a 20-point third quarter with an 80-yard Mark Ferrell touchdown dash and an Andre Hicks 20-yard interception return for a score. But the extra point failed and it would prove costly. SMU got back on the board with a 19-yard Shawnbrey McNeal run to go up eight, and then held on for dear life.
Player of the Game: SMU WR Emmanuel Sanders caught nine passes for 148 yards and a score
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 18-35, 226 yds, 2 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Joe Webb, 18-97, 1 TD, Receiving: Jeffery Anderson, 4-46, 1 TD 
SMU: Passing: Bo Levi Mitchell, 28-47, 353 yds, 3 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Shawnbrey McNeal, 21-67, 1 TD, Receiving: Emmanuel Sanders, 9-148, 1 TD
What It All Means: Joe Webb had a rough game with four interceptions, while the offense turned it over five times, but he rallied the team when he had to and almost pulled the game out of the fire. It was a not-that-bad defensive effort, keeping the high-powered SMU attack to just 353 yards through the air with plenty of stops in the second half, helped by four takeaways. But this was a home win the team had to have. Now it has to go on the road to Troy and Texas A&M.

Sept. 5
at UAB 44 ... Rice 24
It was the Joe Webb show as the UAB led the way to 516 yards of total offense with touchdown runs of 15 and 71 yards and two touchdown passes to Frantrell Forrest from nine and 22 yards away for a 27-3 first half lead. Rice tried to come back, but UAB kept its foot on the gas with touchdown runs from Justin Brooks and Dexter Barnett to make it a blowout.
Player of the Game: UAB QB Joe Webb completed 12-of-15 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns and ran 20 times for 194 yards and two scores.
UAB: Passing: Joe Webb, 12-15, 221 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Joe Webb, 20-194, 2 TD, Receiving: Frantrell Forrest, 4-64, 2 TD
Rice: Passing: John Shepherd, 10-22, 81 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: John Shepherd, 6-48, Receiving: Toren Dixon, 9-65
What It All Means: Joe Webb will get all the credit for the blowout win, and rightly so, but the rest of the Blazers came through to make it an easy day. The defense kept the Rice offense under wraps until the game was out of reach, while WR Frantrell Forrest came up with two nice grabs for scores. This might be the coming out party for the UAB program, at least somewhat, and there's a shot at getting off to a hot start with winnable games against SMU and Troy to follow.