Another road game for the UAB football team. Another circus of turnovers that prove too much to overcome. Especially without starting quarterback Dylan Hopkins.

The Blazers dominated the first quarter of action but giveaways proved costly for a Hopkins-less offense in a 20-17 loss to Western Kentucky, Friday, Oct. 21, at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

UAB falls to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league action.

DeWayne McBride led the rushing attack, eclipsing the century mark for a seventh-straight game, dating back to the Blazers’ win over BYU in the 2021 Independence Bowl. He finished with 197 yards on 24 rushing attempts but gave away two costly fumbles that resulted in 14 points for Western Kentucky.

Trea Shropshire had 2 catches for 27 yards while Samario Rudolph had a 59-yard touchdown reception on UAB’s initial drive of the game.

Noah Wilder finished with a game-high 14 tackles (1 for loss) and moves into fourth place (298) on UAB’s all-time tackles list.

Hot and Nasty Defense Turns Cold

In the first half, UAB’s defense was flying around and causing havoc at every turn for the Western Kentucky offense. The Blazers held Western Kentucky to 184 total yards, but only 62 yards by its vaunted passing attack. The Hilltoppers went three-and-out on the initial possession of the game and missed a 49-yard field-goal attempt on their second drive, marching to the UAB 28-yard line but going backward following a false start penalty.

UAB quarterback Dylan Hopkins was sacked on the second play of the Blazers’ second drive, fumbling the ball to the Hilltoppers, who recovered at UAB’s 37-yard line. Despite the gifted field position, Western Kentucky went three-and-out following an 8-yard tackle for loss by Will Boler on third down.

After tying the game at 7-all early in the second quarter, Jaylen Key forced a fumble on the second play of a Hilltoppers possession and Fish McWilliams recovered at the Western Kentucky 27-yard line. The Blazers scored three plays later on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Jacob Zeno to Fred Farrier II, taking a 17-7 lead with 8:59 remaining in the first half. UAB forced a three-and-out on its next defensive series and knocked down a last-second throw to end the half.

An offense without its leader led to more turnovers and the defense was gassed heading into the final frame. The Blazers held Western Kentucky to only 128 yards through the air but allowed the Hilltoppers to win the physical battle in the trenches with 224 rushing yards for the game.

Hopkins Goes Down

Near the end of the first quarter and facing a 3rd-and-5 at his own 10-yard line, Dylan Hopkins spun away from pressure and escaped for a first-down on a wild scramble. Unfortunately, the junior quarterback took a hard hit at the tail end of the play and did not return to the game — finishing 2-of-2 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Following the injury, UAB advanced the ball 27 yards on the possession before DeWayne McBride fumbled on his side of the field. Western Kentucky scored four plays later on a 20-yard touchdown run by quarterback Austin Reed, tying the game at 7-7 early in the second quarter.

In Hopkins’ absence, Baylor transfer and redshirt junior Jacob Zeno performed less than admirably in his first significant action of the season. He finished 3-of-10 passing for 33 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding 14 yards on the ground. Despite the solid performance, Zeno threw a late interception in the red zone that allowed Western Kentucky to seal the game on its ensuing drive.

Late Turnovers Ensure WKU Rally

As it has been with every Blazers’ road loss this season, turnovers have been the true culprit of their demise. UAB turned the ball over four times against Western Kentucky, resulting in pristine field possession and 14 points scored by the Hilltoppers.

Dylan Hopkins was strip-sacked midway through the first quarter but the first turnover of the game ultimately went for naught following a three-and-out by the UAB defense. A fumble by DeWayne McBride on the next Blazers possession, however, proved costly as Western Kentucky struck fast on a 4-play, 47-yard drive, capping it with a 20-yard rushing touchdown by Austin Reed to tie the game up at 7-all early in the second frame.

Western Kentucky was able to trim the deficit to 17-13 midway through the third frame and was able to score a go-ahead touchdown on UAB’s third turnover of the game. After gaining a first down on a 7-yard run, McBride fumbled for a second time and Western Kentucky’s Jaques Evans returned the ball to the 6-yard line. Reed scored two plays later on a quarterback sneak.

Jacob Zeno managed to direct the Blazers into the Western Kentucky red zone, setting up a 1-and-10 at the Hilltopper 11-yard line following a 28-yard run by McBride and a facemask penalty, but the redshirt junior threw an interception in the end zone on third down for UAB’s fourth turnover of the game.