The UAB football program can no doubt score with anyone but its defense still needs some work after dropping a 49-35 decision to Georgia Southern, Saturday, Sept. 9, at Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro.

The Blazers outgained Georgia Southern on offense, 477-462, but gave up two turnovers on a first-play fumble and critical second-half interception.

Jacob Zeno finished 33-of-43 for 385 yards, two touchdowns and an interception and Isaiah Jacobs led the rushing effort with eight attempts for 47 yards and a touchdown. Jermaine Brown Jr. added 54 total yards – 34 rushing and 20 receiving — and scored on a 19-yard run.

Tight end Bryce Damous led all receivers with seven catches for 47 yards and a score, followed by Iverson “Strap” Hooks with six receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown. Tejhaun Palmer finished with six receptions for 102 yards.

Senior safety Keondre Swoopes finished with a team-high nine tackles, followed by Ike Rowell with seven stops and Jackson Bratton with six tackles and a fumble recovery.

Costly mistakes, early deficit

The Blazers made plenty of costly mistakes in the opening frame and as such resulted in a 14-0 deficit at the end of the quarter. UAB opted to receive the opening kickoff but possession was short-lived as a jam up at the mesh point between Jacob Zeno and Jermaine Brown ended in a fumble recovery for Georgia Southern on the first offensive play of the game. The Eagles scored four plays later on a 5-yard touchdown pass from David Brin to running back Jalen White.

On UAB’s second drive of the game, Zeno and Brown led the offense across midfield but ultimately turned the ball over on downs. Fortunately for the Blazers, cornerback BJ Mayes hauled in an interception on the ensuing Georgia Southern possession, but the ensuing drive ended in a missed field-goal attempt by Matt Quinn. The Eagles took the two-score lead on the following drive as Brin called his own number on a 4-yard touchdown run.

The Blazers eventually forced a three-and-out and took its first lead of the game, 22-21, on a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Isaiah Jacobs, but allowed Georgia Southern to shred the defense on a 4-play scoring drive before the end of the half.

Defensive fallout

UAB made plenty of mistakes of its own on offense, three turnovers and two failed fourth-down conversions, but the usually stout Blazers defense was gashed for 49 points and 462 yards of offense.

Georgia Southern made plays when needed, going 10-for-13 on third-down conversions, and averaged 6.3 yards per play and 4.7 yards per rush. While allowing only 118 rushing yards and four attempts of more than 10 yards, the Blazers gave up 344 yards through the air with no sacks and nine passes of 15 yards or more.

Additionally, the Eagles owned a 32:40 time of possession and failed to score on only three of their 11 possessions. There were five drives of eight or more plays, five of more than 50 yards, and UAB forced only one punt on a three-and-out early in the second quarter.