The UAB football team is back in the win column following a 56-35 victory over South Florida in the 7th annual Children’s Harbor game, Saturday, Oct. 7, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

The Blazers were a juggernaut of offensive production, outgaining South Florida 608-471 in total yards, and were aggressive with their defensive pressure in creating turnovers and critical downs for the Bulls.

Jacob Zeno finished 19-of-25 passing for 353 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, and Jermaine Brown Jr led the rushing effort with 18 carries for 116 yards and four scores, along with two receptions for 20 yards. Lee Beebe had 11 attempts for 44 yards, followed by Lee Witherspoon with 19 yards off four carries.

Tejhaun Palmer had his best game of the season in leading the receiving corps, hauling in two receptions for 119 yards and a pair of scores, and 17-year-old true freshman Amare Thomas finished with three catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Brandon Buckhaulter had two catches for 78 yards and a score.

Keondre Swoopes led the defense with a team-high seven tackles and collected two turnovers on an interception and fumble recovery. Jackson Bratton had six tackles, followed by Michael Moore with five stops and Nikia Eason Jr. with four tackles and two sacks. Mac McWilliams and Ray Thornton forced two pass breakups each and Colby Dempsey had three pass breakups himself.

Defense returns to form

If the opening defensive series for UAB was any indication, it was going to be a long day for the Blazers. South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown broke loose for a 60-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game but the Blazers clamped and held South Florida to 109 total yards for the remainder of the opening half.

UAB’s defense was a shadow of its former self in the first few weeks of the season but reconciled by forcing two first-half turnovers, collecting five tackles for loss and a sack and preventing a scoring drive in the final moments of the first half for the first time this season.

With UAB expanding its lead to as many as four scores in the second half, the Bulls were able to find some success in the final frame as the Blazers went deep into their bench. South Florida gained xx total yards in the final two frames, scoring twice, but was never able to pull within less than three scores of the Blazers.

In all, the Blazers held South Florida to an 8-for-17 performance on third down, 1-of-4 on fourth down and collected three sacks while forcing three turnovers. UAB allowed five passes of more than 15 yards and gave up only four runs of more than 10 yards after Byrum Brown’s early 60-yard touchdown run.