University of Houston
UAB
Cougar Football Can't Hang On Against UAB
10/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 12, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Darrell Hackney threw three touchdown passes and UAB overcame a 22-point first-half deficit to beat Houston 51-34 on Saturday.
Houston (2-4, 0-3 Conference USA) used a strong running attack, led by Joffrey Reynolds, to take a 28-6 lead. But UAB (3-3, 2-0) used Hackney's passing and two critical Houston turnovers in the third quarter to score 38 unanswered points.
The Blazers' comeback started when Hackney hit Roddy White for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the first half, cutting Houston's lead to 28-13.
A 42-yard field goal by UAB's Nick Hayes made it 28-16 early in the third quarter.
The game turned in UAB's favor when linebacker Zack Woodfin intercepted a pass by Nick Eddy at the Cougar 28-yard line and returned it to the 1. Kendal Gibson ran scored, bringing UAB to 28-23.
On Houston's next possession, Reynolds fumbled and UAB's Carlos Hendricks recovered at the Cougar 24. Hackney hit Chico Cleveland with a 10-yard touchdown pass, giving UAB its first lead, 30-28.
UAB took control with two touchdowns early in the fourth quarter - a 1-yard run by Gibson, and a 51-yard TD reception by Willie Quinnie.
Houston closed to 44-34 on a 16-yard scoring pass from Eddy to Chris Robertson with 7:24 left to play.
But KeyKowa Bell fumbled on a punt return and UAB's Thomas Arnold recovered at the Houston 45.
UAB added a late 2-yard touchdown run by Theron Dudley to close out the scoring.
Reynolds finished with 148 yards rushing on 26 carries for Houston - 127 of those came in the first half.
Hackney completed 18 of 34 passes for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Quinnie had six catches for 156 yards.
Houston has lost 14th straight conference games.
