After a 32-6 loss last week to the Louisiana-Monroe, UAB’s latest result may have surprised some. The Blazers took the Arkansas Razorbacks to the brink of an upset in Fayetteville, losing what was an unexpected Saturday afternoon thriller 27-37.
The UAB offense took a page from last season’s success in short yardage passing and applied it to Saturday’s game. Jacob Zeno looked the most comfortable he has so far in 2024 behind a much-improved offensive line from last week. On the other side of things, Arkansas’ rushing attack behind quarterback Taylen Green and running back Ja’Quinden Jackson was what ultimately sealed the fate of the Blazers.
UAB moved to 1-2 on the season.
Here’s what we learned on Saturday afternoon.
This Blazer offense is still very talented
Right out of the gates, the UAB offense took the ball 66 yards down the field, draining seven and a half minutes off the clock and taking an early 3-0 lead on the road.
Following an interception on Arkansas QB Taylen Green, the Blazers ran an end-around to Kam Shanks for 15 yards and a touchdown to take a 10-0 lead.
Zeno had a much-needed bounce back game, putting up 235 yards on 22-of-32 passing in what was his best game of the young season.
Speaking of youth, the receiver duo of Amare Thomas and Kam Shanks continue to show they’re the two best weapons in this receiving offense. Despite a couple drops, Thomas reeled in five passes for 56 yards and Shanks added five receptions for 31 yards and the touchdown in the first quarter.
The running game excelled as well behind much improved play from an offensive line that’s struggled as of late. Isaiah Jacobs, the Blazers power runner, recorded 62 yards on 15 carries, and Lee Beebe Jr. added 43 yards on 12 carries.
Run defense remains a concern
Arkansas QB Taylen Green struggled badly in the passing game today, only putting up 161 yards in the air on 11 completions. The Razorbacks’ offense resorted to pummeling UAB’s rush defense that struggled last week as well.
Green rushed for 96 yards on 17 carries, as the Blazer’s defensive ends struggled with setting the edge against Arkansas’ tackles and bringing down the 6-foot-6 QB when they did get their hands on him.
When it wasn’t Green scrambling, it was Ja’Quinden Jackson out of the backfield, who put up an absurd 9.8 yards per carry with 15 touches for 147 yards. His physicality on the ground led to Arkansas regaining control of the clock for the majority of the second half, allowing them to get ahead and stay ahead.
Going toe-to-toe with a mid-to-lower tier SEC team feels like a moral victory. But after back-to-back rough games, run defense feels like one of the more glaring areas The Blazers need to address and work on during the bye week before Navy, another physical rushing attack, comes to Birmingham on September 28th.
Dilfer’s performance should comfort UAB fanbase
If last week made you question his position, this week should bring you comfort. The loss in Monroe was a big one, but it was obvious from the jump this week that the Dilfer was going to do all he could to have his team ready this week, and it showed on game day.
It’s hard to overstate the advantage SEC teams pose to a team like UAB in terms of overall size, depth and crowd noise. All were a factor today, but neither deterred the Blazers like they would with some teams in their situation.
The only time UAB felt like they were overwhelmed came on Arkansas’ last drive, where emotions boiled over and the Razorbacks received a 15-yard boost on an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, contributing to the Taylen Green rush that sealed the game with just under four minutes to go.
To bring this roster into Fayetteville, put up 27 points and have this be a competitive game until that score needs to be commended. After a sloppy start to the season the Blazers looked like they were in trouble this year, but with Navy and Tulane coming into town after the bye week, the Blazers have a shot to show a renewed energy off the back of a hell of a performance against one of the better unranked teams in the nation.
