BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Darrin Reaves rushed for 184 yards and two scores and Alabama-Birmingham withstood a late Marshall barrage to win 38-31 Saturday.
The Blazers (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA) led 31-7 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.
Within 2 minutes, the Thundering Herd roared back with a 10-yard TD pass from Rakeem Cato to Jazz King, followed by Kevin Grooms' 7-yard TD run and Justin Haig's 38-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining.
Reaves answered with a 17-yard TD, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive with 2:50 left to set a single-season UAB touchdown record with 12.
Marshall (4-6, 1-5) then moved downfield quickly and efficiently, with Cato connecting with Tommy Shuler on 30- and 19-yard plays before finding Gator Hoskins for a 3-yard TD with 1:41 remaining.
UAB recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. The Blazers' Austin Brown threw two TD passes and Jackie Williams had a 79-yard punt return.
Fact Box
UAB 38, MARSHALL 31
Marshall70717-31
UAB141077-38
First Quarter
Mar-Watson 2 run (Haig kick), 12:27.
UAB-Williams 79 punt return (Long kick), 7:59.
UAB-Reaves 4 run (Long kick), 2:39.
Second Quarter
UAB-Hearn 33 pass from A.Brown (Long kick), 14:50.
UAB-FG Long 27, :17.
Third Quarter
UAB-N.Adams 32 pass from A.Brown (Long kick), 5:23.
Mar-King 10 pass from Cato (Haig kick), 3:28.
Fourth Quarter
Mar-Grooms 7 run (Haig kick), 14:40.
Mar-FG Haig 38, 7:18.
UAB-Reaves 17 run (Long kick), 2:50.
Mar-Hoskins 3 pass from Cato (Haig kick), 1:41.
A-11,981.
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MarUAB
First downs1825
Rushes-yards41-12142-209
Passing216197
Comp-Att-Int25-34-120-34-3
Return Yards0104
Punts-Avg.6-36.32-42.0
Fumbles-Lost0-02-1
Penalties-Yards2-305-30
Time of Possession25:2934:31
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING-Marshall, Grooms 16-75, Watson 8-31, Butler 9-21,
Team 1-(minus 2), Cato 7-(minus 4). UAB, Reaves 32-184, Coles 5-60,
Team 2-(minus 2), A.Brown 3-(minus 33).
PASSING-Marshall, Cato 25-34-1-216. UAB, A.Brown 20-34-3-197.
RECEIVING-Marshall, Shuler 5-77, Hoskins 4-41, Watson 4-30,
Butler 4-13, Anta.Wilson 3-24, Evans 2-18, Crawford 1-11, King 1-10,
Cato 1-(minus 8). UAB, Reaves 6-37, N.Adams 3-47, Nelson 3-30,
Hearn 2-47, Williams 2-26, Backman 2-8, Accursio 1-4,
J.Davis 1-(minus 2).
