BlazerSportsReport.com - Blazers Fall to Ohio State, 29-15

September 22, 2012

Larry Powell
BlazerSportsReport.com Senior Writer

The bad news. UAB lost to Ohio State. The good news. They looked a lot better and even held the lead for much of the first half. In fact, the Blazers used a blocked punt return and a Ty Long field goal to build a 9-0 first half lead. But then the Ohio State offense started clicking, and the Buckeyes finished with a 29-15 win.

UAB got on the board first when Nick Adams returned a blocked Ohio State punt 20 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. Long hit his first of three field goals - a 47-yarder - early in the second quarter to stake the Blazers to a 9-0 lead.

Ohio State cut the lead to 9-7 with a second quarter touchdown, and then took the lead for good with another touchdown. The score got cut to 14-12 when Long hit his second field goal of the game - a career long 54-yarder. That 14-12 OSU lead looked like it might hold for the first half, but Ohio State added another late touchdown in the period to go to the locker room with a 21-12 lead.

UAB successfully tried an onside kick to open the second half, but penalties prevented the Blazers from taking advantage of the ball possession. Instead, neither team was able to score in the third quarter.

UAB added another Ty Long field goal in the fourth quarter, but OSU added a touchdown and a two-point conversion for the final 29-15 score.

Freshman quarterback Austin Brown, who replaced starter Jonathan Perry, was the offensive star for the Blazers. He hit 21-of-35 passes for 196 yards.

Quarterback Braxton Miller led Ohio State with two touchdown runs, including the final one to clinch the game for the Buckeyes late in the fourth quarter.

The Blazers had their best game of the season in on offense and in the running game, putting up 403 total yards and 144 rushing yards as a team. Darrin Reaves led the ground game with 72 yards on 16 carries. Reaves also had seven receptions for 42 yards.

Jackie Williams was the Blazers top receiver with five catches for 55 yards.

UAB returns to home for its next game. The team will host Tulsa at Legion Field in their Conference USA opener next Saturday.

FEATURED PRODUCT