University of Houston Athletics
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- Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) (Sept. 25) -- Daniel Dixon threw three touchdown passes, including one for 79 yards to Darrius Malone, as UAB defeated Houston 29-10 Saturday in its first-ever Conference USA game.
Malone grabbed a pass from Dixon in full stride and raced down the sideline for a third-quarter TD that made it 22-10. The score was one in a series of big plays that lifted UAB (1-2 overall, 1-0 CUSA) over the Cougars (2-2 overall, 0-1).
Dixon also threw a 55-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Thatch and another for 31 yards to Johnni Arrington. Dixon finished the game 7-of-14 for 209 yards with no interceptions.
UAB joined the nine-team C-USA in 1996. But it hadn't played a game that counted in the conference standings until Houston visited Legion Field, where the Cougars lost 37-10 to then-No. 21 Alabama two weeks ago.
Houston's offense controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes, piling up 21 first downs to only eight for UAB. But the Blazers used a series of big gainers and a tough defensive stand to put away the Cougars.
Rodregis Brooks returned a punt 53 yards to the Houston 23 barely six minutes into the game, setting up Carl Fair's 6-yard touchdown run off right tackle five plays later.
With Houston at its own 1 facing second-and-11 early in the third, UAB's Thomas Bryan tackled quarterback Jason McKinley in the end zone for a safety. Houston stopped UAB after the free kick, but Dixon threw his long scoring strike to Malone after the Blazer defense held.
Houston's points came on a 1-yard touchdown run by Mike Green and a 26-yard field goal by Mike Clark.
McKinley completed nine of 23 pass attempts for 126 yards before being injured and replaced by Tyson Helton, who was 6-of-15 for 54 yards with two interceptions.