It’s the midpoint of the season for the UAB football team and all three phases of the game are starting to come together for another possible championship run.

The Blazers finish off a two-game conference homestand as they play host to Charlotte, Saturday, Oct. 15, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CST on Stadium

RELATED: UAB remains home to face Charlotte

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So how do the teams match up? Here is AL.com’s position-by-position breakdown for UAB’s showdown with the 49ers:

Quarterback

UAB opened up the offense last week against Middle Tennessee State and Dylan Hopkins was commanding and efficient in leading the unit to 581 total yards. The junior quarterback passed for 278 yards and a touchdown, bringing his season total to 939 yards and 5 touchdowns against 1 interception, and connected with a resurgent Trea Shropshire for 193 yards. Hopkins also showcased his athletic ability in escaping pressure and avoiding sacks multiple times.

Charlotte has the 82nd-ranked offense (381.0 ypg) in the nation and the passing offense is the primary driver for the 49ers. Chris Reynolds missed two games early in the season but returned for Charlotte’s lone win of the season at Georgia State, amassing 1,087 yards, 13 touchdowns and 4 interceptions this season. With Reynolds at the helm, Charlotte’s offense is drastically different from the run-first mentality of James Foster and Xavier Williams. Advantage: Even

Running back

The Blazers have staked their offensive identity on a bruising rushing attack and this season’s edition may be the best in recent memory. Led by DeWayne McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr., UAB leads Conference USA and currently ranks ninth in the nation in rushing offense (236.4 ypg).

McBride has performed at an elite level since missing the season opener, eclipsing the century mark in his first four games, and leads the nation with 160.2 ypg. The junior has 641 yards and 9 touchdowns and is on pace to break the UAB single-season records in both categories. Brown has totaled 435 total yards, scoring 3 touchdowns on the ground, and is developing as an excellent pass-blocker.

A.J. Gates received his first carries of the season last week and takes over as the third option in the running game with Lee Witherspoon on the mend. Taven Curry should see a few more opportunities going forward.

Charlotte has found itself playing catchup in every game this season and the running game has suffered along the way. The 49ers are ranked 122nd in rushing offense (94.7 ypg) and its top three rushers have fewer combined yards on the ground than McBride or Brown. Shadrick Byrd leads the attack, rushing for 275 yards and a touchdown and catching 8 passes for 67 yards, and ChaVon McEachern has 172 yards and a score on the ground. Henry Rutledge is utilized primarily as a third-down back, hauling in 7 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown. Advantage: UAB

Receiver/tight end

The Blazers continue to build the offense each week and the passing game is starting to kick into gear at the right time. Trea Shropshire put up a career-high 193 yards last week, including a 68-yard touchdown catch, and leads the team with 314 yards and 2 touchdowns. His presence downfield creates a matchup with speed and size and a developing route tree makes the senior receiver even more dangerous.

Tejhaun Palmer is proving a valuable asset for UAB, hauling in 13 receptions and 222 yards, and T.J. Jones has a team-high 16 catches for 105 yards. Samario Rudolph is the only other receiver with a touchdown catch, pulling down 4 receptions for 66 yards, and Dexter Boykin and Fred Farrier II are seeing increased targets. Unfortunately, redshirt junior Ryan Davis suffered a hip injury and underwent season-ending surgery.

Although not involved as much in the passing game as last season, UAB’s tight ends are getting the job done. Terrell McDonald has 4 catches for 22 yards, tied with Shropshire for a team-leading 2 touchdowns, and Bryce Damous is on the cusp of breaking through as a deadly mismatch. Maleak Bryant has yet to record a catch this season but is playing solid on the run block.

Charlotte has three receivers with more than 250 yards and 3 touchdowns each but mostly as a result of playing from behind and having plenty of downfield opportunities. Grant Dubose leads the receiving corps, hauling in 35 catches for 429 yards and 7 touchdowns, and Victor Tucker has 30 receptions for 271 yards and 5 touchdowns. Elijah Spencer is the dominant downfield threat, producing a 19.2 average with 538 yards and 3 scores on 28 receptions. Nolan Grouix, who is playing both offense and defense, has 7 catches for 89 yards.

Tight end Jake Clemons has only 2 catches for 3 yards, one of which is a touchdown, and newcomer Eugene Minter has 6 receptions for 92 yards. Minter, a Birmingham native, originally signed with UAB’s 2017 recruiting class but eventually enrolled at Arkansas State before transferring to Austin Peay. Advantage: Even

Offensive line

UAB’s offensive line is pretty good at pushing people around and making room for McBride and Brown in the running game. The Blazers have allowed 9 sacks this season but Hopkins is partly to blame for attempting to extend plays longer than needed — a problem not present against Middle Tennessee State as the junior quarterback amassed 52 rushing yards without a negative play.

The 49ers are not very good at pushing people around. Charlotte has one of the worst rushing offenses in the nation and has allowed 16 sacks this season. Senor Ashton Gist anchors the line at center this year, after making 18 straight starts at right guard, and sophomore Panda Askew has made 12 straight starts at left guard dating back to last year.

Redshirt junior Jaxon Hughes has started the last five games at left tackle, playing both tackle positions last season, and Rutgers transfer Matt Rosso has manned right tackle the last four games, taking over for an injured T.J. Moore. Jon Jacobs has entrenched himself at right guard with Jonny King providing relief at the interior guard positions. Advantage: UAB

Defensive line

The Blazers are allowing just a hair shy of 150 yards on the ground this season, ranking 79th in the nation, and the defensive line has answered the question of replacing three starters from last year’s team. Fish McWilliams and Isaiah Forte lead the interior tackle positions, following their respective time as underclassmen, and are vital to UAB’s run defense. McWilliams leads the duo with 13 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks and Forte has 11 tackles (1 for loss).

Drew Tuazama is coming on strong this season, registering 14 tackles (1.5 for loss) and 1.5 sacks, and Michael Fairbanks II has put it together at SAM defense end, logging 12 tackles (15 for loss) and 1/2 sack. Tyrique Howard and Kevin Penn are the only other defensive linemen to appear in three or more games this season, each recording 5 tackles.

Charlotte is one spot shy of being the worst defense in the nation, statistically speaking. The 49ers are ranked 130th in both total defense (537.5 ypg) and rushing defense (253.3 ypg) and have collected only 6 sacks this season, 5 of which belong to the defensive line.

Redshirt seniors Markees Watts and Amir Siddiq form a bookend duo at defensive end and are spelled by a rotation of Kofi Wardlaw, Mike Kelly and Darion Smith. Siddiq leads the pass-rushing unit with 21 tackles (4.5 for loss) and 2 sacks, followed by Watts with 15 tackles (2 for loss) and a sack. Wardlaw, Kelly and Smith have a combined 29 tackles (2.5 for loss), Wardlaw adding a sack.

Redshirt sophomores Dez Morgan and Jalar Holley man the interior of the defensive line, the latter producing 22 tackles (1 for loss) and a sack and Morgan putting up 19 tackles (0.5 for loss). Advantage: UAB

Linebackers

Noah Wilder continues to unleash devastation in his wake and is 4 tackles away from moving into seventh place on UAB’s all-time tackles list. The senior has a team-high 45 tackles (1.5 for loss), along with 3 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble and recovery. Tyler Taylor is playing the best ball of his career, notching 35 tackles (4.5 for loss), 1.5 sacks and an interception, and Kelle Sanders is laying down destruction at the Jack position, grabbing 22 tackles (2 for loss), 2 sacks, a pass breakup and fumble recovery.

Alabama transfer Jackson Bratton and Georgia Southern transfer Reynard Ellis have bolstered the depth in the middle, combining for 33 tackles (1.5 for loss), and are capable of making the defensive calls without the aid of Wilder or Taylor. Nikia Eason Jr. is playing well behind Sanders, producing 7 tackles (2 for loss) and a sack, and Kyle Harrell returned last week after missing the previous two contests.

Charlotte primarily plays with two linebackers, despite the 4-3 base, and Derek Boykins and Wake Forest transfer Chase Monroe lead the unit at the Mike position. Boykins has started every game, grabbing 20 tackles, and Monroe has transitioned well with 25 tackles (2.5 for loss).

Prince Bemah and B.J. Turner share duties at Will linebacker, combining for 45 tackles (4 for loss) with Bemah adding a sack and forced fumble and Turner logging an interception. True freshmen Reid Williford and Maguire Neal are receiving plenty of experience at the additional linebacker spot, both recording 13 tackles and combining for 3 tackles for loss. Advantage: UAB

Secondary

The Blazers have one of the best defensive backfields in the nation, ranking second nationally in pass efficiency defense (93.28), allowing a 53.3 completion rate and collecting 7 interceptions, and ranks 13th in passing yards allowed (168.6 ypg).

Keondre Swoopes leads the unit from the star position, posting 25 tackles, 3 pass breakups and an interception, and Jaylen Key and Grayson Cash have played lights out in the backend, along with Will Boler. Key has produced 22 tackles (1 for loss) and a team-high 2 interceptions, Cash collecting 20 tackles (1.5 for loss), a sack, 2 pass breakups and an interception, and Boler adds 14 tackles and 2 pass breakups. Damien Miller has seen plenty of action in all five games, collecting 10 tackles (1 for loss) and two recoveries, a forced fumble by Kyle Harrell and a blocked punt by Charlie Goode in the end zone for a score.

Mac McWilliams was inches away last week from his second pick-6 of the season and leads a talented and deep cornerback pool. McWilliams has 12 tackles and 7 pass breakups this season, including a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown in the season opener, and Starling Thomas V and Devodric Bynum have combined for 21 tackles (1 for loss) and 9 pass breakups. CD Daniels, Colby Dempsey and Xavier Lanier round out a strong rotation, combining for 11 tackles and Lanier adding an interception.

Charlotte’s secondary is not the worst in the country but it’s not going well either. The 49ers are 120th in passing defense (284.2 ypg) and have collected only 3 interceptions this season. Geo Howard has started every game at cornerback, racking up 27 tackles and a pass breakup, and receiver Nolan Grouix has taken up double duty at cornerback. Bryson Whitehead and Valerian Agbaw have each started games and play in the rotation.

Kansas State transfer Wayne Jones is leading the backend from his safety position, notching a team-high 46 tackles (2.5 for loss), 2 pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble, and Solomon Rogers has provided relief with 20 tackles. Tank Robinson and Steven Parker share the other safety spot, Parker leading the duo with 26 tackles and Robinson adding 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. Lacy Williams plays in a hybrid nickleback position, notching 9 tackles (2 for loss) and a pass breakup. Advantage: UAB

Special Teams

Aside from a long field-goal attempt that caught the wind and bounced off the crossbar, Matt Quinn has responded well since missing two short attempts against Georgia Southern. He is 4-for-7 this season with a long of 51 yards and has made all 21 extra-point attempts. Kyle Greenwell is averaging 46.1 yards on each punt and has forced 5 touchbacks, 3 kicks inside the 20-yard line and 2 fair catches.

Charlotte is solid in the return game and punter Bailey Rice is capable of flipping the field for the 49ers, averaging 44 yards per punt with 9 fair catches, 8 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and 6 kicks of more than 50 yards. However, Antonio Zita is only 1-for-2 on field-goal attempts this season, making a 32-yarder and missing the other from 50+ yards. Advantage: Even

Coaching

Will Healy is a young and energetic coach but has yet to build Charlotte into a sustainable program in his short tenure. Vincent has the right mindset as UAB interim head coach, taking a CEO approach to the program and increasing its recruiting prowess along the way, and could be 5-0 with the Blazers if not for a few bad bounces of the ball. Advantage: UAB

Overall

The Blazers are the more talented and experienced team but Charlotte has pulled an upset or two in its short history as an FBS program, including an overtime victory over UAB for its first win of the 2017 season. Charlotte’s lone offensive straight faces the best passing defense in the league, arguably one of the best in the nation, and the Blazers need only to prevent turnovers to take a second-straight home conference game at home. Advantage: UAB