The UAB football team has lost three games this season by a combined 14 points and there exists a universal commonality between all three one-possession outcomes.

Turnovers.

Repeat.

Turnovers.

The Blazers gave the ball away twice in each half to deflate an inspired and cutthroat defensive performance in a 20-17 loss to Western Kentucky, Friday, Oct. 21, at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

UAB drops to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in C-USA, and is now on the outside looking in as far as a league title game appearance is concerned.

Without a doubt, turnovers are the Achilles Heel for a UAB offense built as a possessive unit, employing the nation’s leader in yards per game (162.5), DeWayne McBride, to power a top-10 rushing attack. The Blazers have given up 10 turnovers in their losses, forcing three for a minus-7 ratio, and McBride is responsible for two fumbles each in games at Liberty and Western Kentucky.

Although both fumbles at Liberty did not result in opponent points, McBride’s giveaways were pivotal in allowing Western Kentucky a short field in which to score both of its touchdowns.

Leading 7-0 late in the opening quarter, following a three-and-out by the defense, UAB drove quickly to midfield with a dose of both McBride and Jermaine Brown Jr. However, the former fumbled just before reaching the 50-yard line and cornerback Kahlef Hailassie recovered for the Hilltoppers.

Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed scored four plays later on a 20-yard run straight through the gut of the UAB defensive front, tying the game at 7-all on the second play of the second quarter.

The second fumble of the game for McBride, proving the most fatal, came with less than four minutes remaining in the third frame. Gaining a first down on a 7-yard carry, McBride refused to be brought down by mere mortals and waited a bit too long in doing so as Hailassie stripped the ball from his hands and JACK linebacker Jaques Evans recovered and returned the fumble 29 yards to the UAB 6-yard line.

Reed scored the go-ahead touchdown — his second rushing score of the game — two plays later on a quarterback sneak up the middle, giving the Hilltoppers a 20-17 lead with 2:51 left in the quarter.

UAB’s next two opportunities to retake the lead failed in three-and-out fashion, but backup quarterback Jacob Zeno, who replaced an injured Dylan Hopkins in the first quarter, led the Blazers on one final drive with an opportunity to either tie or win the game.

Once more. Turnover.

Zeno zipped a pass to Trea Shropshire for a 23-yard gain on the first play of the possession, McBride carried twice for 15 yards to midfield, and then the bruising back broke free for a 28-yard run down to the Western Kentucky 22-yard line and extended down to the 11-yard line with a facemask penalty called on the Hilltoppers.

A couple of runs by McBride and Brown netted only a single yard and then Zeno dropped back on 3rd-and-9 with an eye-lock on UNA transfer Dexter Boykin. Not drawn from the coverage in any sort of fashion, Hailassie, who recovered a fumble and forced another, stepped in front of the pass to thwart the UAB rally.