LEGION FIELD - In the annual Battle for the Bones, UAB played dead. The result was a 46-9 shellacking at the hands of the Memphis Tigers - the worst defeat by the Blazers in the 15-year history of the rivalry. Memphis took control early and maintained dominance until the end of the game. The Tigers even scored on UAB's only touchdown of the day, blocking the extra-point attempt and running it back for a two-point conversion.

Memphis scored first, marching 66 yards in nine plays on their first possession. Brandon Hayes capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run around left end.

The Tigers made it 14-0 on their next possession, marching 70 yards in six plays. Quarterback Jacob Karam hit Keiwone Malone with a 30-yard touchdown pass for the score.

UAB got a pair of first downs on its next possession, but the drive stalled at midfield. Memphis blocked the punt and got the ball at UAB's 24. Two plays later, Karam hit Alan Cross for a 25-yard scoring pass and a 21-0 lead for Memphis in the first quarter.

UAB got on the board early in the second quarter when Ty Long kicked a 48-yard field goal to make the score 21-3.

Memphis quickly increased the score to 28-3. Karam hit Jesse Milleson with a two-yard scoring pass. The score was set up by a 38-yard run from Tevin Jones. Neither team scored again in the period, leaving Memphis with a 28-3 halftime lead.

Memphis added to their points late in the third quarter when Paulo Henriques kicked a 51-yard field goal. The kick gave the Tigers a 31-3 lead with 2:59 remaining in the period.

Malone sat up the Tigers next scoring attempt with a 57-yard punt return to the UAB 14. Memphis lost 11 yards on the drive but still had a 43-yard field goal attempt that missed.

UAB got the ball at the ball at the 33, but quarterback Austin Brown fumbled at the 18 on the next play. Two plays later, Brandon Hayes ran the ball from five yards out for the score. The extra point attempt missed, but Memphis still held a 37-3 lead.

Hayes repeated the performance on the next Memphis possession. This time he used a 46-yard touchdown run to give the Tigers a 44-3 lead.

UAB recovered a Memphis fumble at the Tigers' 30 to set up its first touchdown of the day. Kennard Backman got the score on a four-yard pass from Brown.

Long's extra point return was blocked, and the Tigers Charles Harris ran it back for a two-point score for Memphis. That made the score 46-9 with six minutes remaining in the game.

That ended the scoring for the day. UAB threatened one more time, but the drive was stopped by an interception inside the Memphis 20 with a few seconds remaining in the game.

Memphis largely kept UAB running back Darrin Reaves in check. After rushing for 407 yards in the last two games, Reaves managed only 38 yards pm 14 carries. Brown was the Blazers' biggest offensive threat with 187 passing yards on 23 completions in 41 attempts.

Hayes led the Memphis ground game with 137 yards on 19 touches. Quarterback Karam hit 14-of-16 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns.

The Memphis game was the last home game of the season for the Blazers. The team finishes out the season next week when they travel to Orlando to challenge UCF.


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