The UAB defense had done its job.

Much maligned through the first half of the year, the Blazers allowed only a single score in the first half but offensive ineptitude put the unit back on the field time and time again.

The Blazers were consistently inconsistent on offense and an inspired defensive performance was for naught in a 31-6 loss to Navy, Saturday, Nov. 11, at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

“Defense, overall, played really well,” Dilfer said. “It’s a tough offense to defend. We had a good plan, a good week of practice and they got a lot of stops. That’s what you ask for in a defense. They just got put on the field too much in some bad situations. Eventually, against this type of offense, you’re not going to hold up.”

UAB is now 3-7 overall, 2-4 in AAC action, and fails to reach bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2013 season, the final year before Bill Clark was hired.

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UAB defense shows up, offense wilts under pressure

Rewinding UAB’s 31-6 loss to Navy on Veterans Day

The Blazers forced a punt on the opening drive of the game but went three-and-out themselves and allowed Navy to drive inside the red zone on its second possession. However, senior safety Keondre Swoopes turned the Midshipmen away on a fourth-down interception in the end zone but UAB was forced into a three-and-out once more.

On its third drive, Navy quarterback found a wide-open receiver for a 45-yard touchdown, and UAB responded with a 37-yard field goal from Matt Quinn to cut the lead to 7-3 at the end of the first frame. The Blazers were able to add another field goal, followed by a fumble recovery by Swoopes, but Quinn missed his third attempt to keep the Navy advantage 7-6 entering the halftime break.

UAB amassed 139 yards in the first half, went three-and-out three times and was 2-for-8 on third-down conversions. The Blazers gained only 39 yards on its four failed possessions and were as incompetent in the second half as they were in the opening two frames.

“We wanted to run the ball more this week to create some big plays in the passing game,” Dilfer said. “We just didn’t do anything good offensively — whether it was bad reads, dropped balls or missed assignments. It was a comedy of errors on offense.”

Jacob Zeno, who finished 25-of-36 for 206 yards and a pair of interceptions, threw a pick on the first possession of the second half, and returned 42 yards to the UAB 31-yard line, but his defense held in forcing the Midshipmen to settle for a field goal in a one-possession game.

Although still a one-possession affair, UAB went three-and-out for the fourth time on the ensuing drive and Navy took full control of the game in wearing down the UAB defense on a 20-play, 80-yard scoring drive that covered 12:44 of game time and extended into the final frame.

The Blazers were able to respond in crossing midfield, punting after consecutive pre-snap penalties stalled the drive, and Navy quarterback Xavier Arline sealed the deal five plays late with a 50-yard touchdown straight through an exhausted UAB defense.

Navy finished with 363 total yards, 269 coming on the ground, but UAB’s defense forced two turnovers, two three-and-outs and made timely plays before the lack of rest wore the unit down into dust.

“I feel bad for them (defense),” Dilfer said. “They played their best game of the year and the other side of the ball didn’t show up.”

Zeno guided UAB back down into the red zone but was picked off a second time, by Rayuan Lane III, who returned the interception 97 yards — setting the stadium record for longest interception return — to cap the scoring at 31-6 and denying the Blazers an eight-straight bowl eligible season.