UAB plays like Alcorn State but wins 22-0

Photo: UAB Kicker Swayze Waters

STEVE IRVINE, Birmingham

Waters sets record as Blazers pitch shutout over Alcorn State

Want to take an optimistic view of UAB's 22-0 non-conference victory over Alcorn State on Saturday night at Legion Field?

Then focus on Swayze Waters' school-record five field goals and the Blazers' first defensive shutout since 1999.

For you pessimists out there, why couldn't UAB put the ball in the end zone more than once? And, really, how impressive is a shutout of an Alcorn State team that has scored 13 points in three games?

For the record, Neil Callaway can see both sides - at least as far as his offense is concerned.

"It was great what he (Waters) did because he made them all and, really, I don't think there was any question on any of them," said Callaway, after his team improved to 1-2. "On the other hand, we wished we could score a few more touchdowns."

Regardless, linebacker Joe Henderson was pleased Callaway won for the first time as a head coach.

"I felt good to get him a win and see a smile on his face because he doesn't smile very often," Henderson said. "He's tough on us, so we're happy to see him smiling and happy."

Take away the offense's inability to put the ball in the end zone and the Blazers did several things on Saturday night not only to make Callaway happy but to please a crowd of 21,828.

The most important thing was breaking an eight-game losing streak. Before Saturday night, the last time UAB went home victorious was when it beat Memphis at Legion Field on Oct. 7, 2006.

"It means a lot," said safety Will Dunbar. "That losing taste that you've got in your mouth is finally out. You got to get used to winning again. It just gives a big boost to us and is a confidence builder."

Obviously, it was the defense that spearheaded the streak-breaking victory.

The defense took turns being stifling and optimistic. The Blazers allowed the Braves (0-3) just 233 yards in offense. When Alcorn State did get moving in the first half, Henderson and Dunbar stepped up to end drives with interceptions. In the end, it was the Blazers' first shutout in the past 91 games - dating to a 47-0 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 2, 1999.

"We turned the ball over inside of their territory two or three times and that hurt us," said Alcorn State head coach Johnny Thomas. "You can't do that against a good football team like UAB."

The game would have been more nerve-wracking for the Blazers without those turnovers because UAB had trouble getting the ball in the end zone.

Three promising first-half drives ended up with Waters converting on field goals of 42, 32 and 52 yards. Two promising second-half drives ended with Waters drilling field goals of 22 and 38 yards.

When he was through, Waters set a school record and tied a Conference USA mark for field goals in a game. But the Blazers would have preferred that Waters wasn't so busy.

"It always drives you crazy when you can't score touchdowns," said fullback David Sigler. "But points are points. It was just a bunch of little things we need to correct to score some touchdowns."

The only touchdown of the night came when quarterback Sam Hunt floated a pass to Sigler in the right flat that Sigler turned into a 4-yard score.

It gave UAB a 16-0 halftime lead.

Other than Waters, the most promising offensive performance came from former Homewood standout Brandon Thornton, who started in place of a banged-up Rashaud Slaughter. Thornton, playing for the first time in a UAB uniform, carried the ball 21 times for 89 yards even though he claimed to be rusty. Jim Mitchell chipped in with 78 yards on 12 carries as the Blazers gained 211 net yards rushing on 45 carries.

Attendance: 21,828