COLUMBIA, SC-- It was Military appreciation day for South Carolina, but the fans couldn't help but appreciate the dominating performance from the UAB Blazers. In front of the second-largest crowd in William-Brice Stadium history, No. 6 UAB scored 17 points in a span of 2:24 early in the first quarter and took a 17-3 halftime lead on their way to a 38-24 win on Saturday. The announced crowd of 84, 950 witnessed another dominating performance but not from the home team, as UAB (7-0, 4-0 SEC) was led by tailback Matthew Scott who finished on the ground with 193 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Senior Marcus Rutledge added another touchdown on the ground while wide receiver Ian Wilson caught six passes for 148 yards including a 41 yard touchdown grab to start the game.
On defense the youthful secondary turned another great performance intercepting the ball four times including Anthony MacFarland returning his 65 yards for the score putting UAB up 14-0 early in the first quarter. Middle Linebacker imi McCollum grabbed 6 tackles and he and the UAB front seven was all over the Gamecocks rushing attack holding them to just 19 first half yards on the ground. Safety Dominic Rhodes ended any late game hopes of a comeback with his interception in the fourth quarter.
Wearing its Nike Pro Combat Wounded Warrior Uniforms, South Carolina looked wounded as they were outgained 422 to 291.
In what was billed as a make or break game for the Gamecocks. UAB never trailed and South Carolina rarely threatened the vaunted UAB defense which had 10 tackles for loss including two sacks and forced four interceptions with an interception returned for a touchdown.
South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) was led by sophomore running back John Waters who got 118 yards on the ground. Speedy receiver Eric Fogle was held catch-less until the fourth quarter when he hauled in a 66 yard bomb, he would finish with three receptions for 90 yards.
Quarterback Jeremy Downing was sacked twice but managed two late rushing touchdowns. Of South Carolina's 291 total yards, 233 came in the seond half as the Blazers held them to just 58 first half yards.
UAB took the opening kickoff to the defining sound of the Gamecock faithful but quieted them quickly with a 41 yard scoring strike to Ian Wilson, the score would make Wilson the all time career leader in touchdown receptions with 37 and UAB was up 7-0.
(IAN WILSON LOOKS ON TO THE CROWD AFTER BECOMING THE SCHOOLS CAREER RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS LEADER)
"
Ian has been a great receiver for us since I became coach." Coach Rhatigan said after the game. "
He routinely has made plays for us, I'm proud of his accomplishment."
It was the defense turn to shine, in particular freshmen cornerback Anthony McFarland who had the dubious task of covering one of the conference most dangerous receivers in Eric Fogle. But he was up to the challenge and facing a third and eight Downing fired a ball to the tightly covered Fogle and McFarland jumped the ball and zipped down the field 65 yards putting UAB up 14-0.
(GAMECOCK PLAYERS SCREAM FOR A UNSPORTSMANLIKE PENALTY ON MCFARLAND AFTER TAUNTING THE FANS DURING HIS INTERCEPTION RETURN)
By halftime it was 17-3 and despite two interceptions thrown by quarterback Adam Dyks, the Blazers still were in control of the game.
After Downing would throw his third interception in the third quarter this time by McCollum, back up running back Marcus Rutledge carried the ball in from seven yards out to put the Blazers up 24-3. The gamecocks would try to mount a comeback as Downing grabbed to rushing touchdowns to start the fourth quarter to bring the Gamecocks to within seven points at 24-17. But the running of Matthew Scott would ice the game. After gaining three consecutive first downs and milking three minutes off the clock Scott carried the ball in from 20 yards out to give the Blazers a 31-17 lead, Downing would throw his fourth interception of the game to safety Dominic Rhodes and four plays later Scott closed the deal from three yards getting the score.
--
(MATTHEW SCOTT HELPED CONTROL THE FOURTH QUARTER ALONG WITH SAFETY DOMINIC RHODES (PICTURED RIGHT) WITH THIS INTERCEPTION.)
"We dominated third downs today." Said Rhatigan.
" When you can keep the chains moving and keep the ball out of their hands its always a plus."
The Blazers were 5 for 7 on third down conversions and holding South Carolina to just 4 for 10.
"We also got a mean streak about ourselves. When they brought the game within seven and Dyks struggling, we chose to run the ball, and we ran effectively. Gotta give the big guys credit up front."
The Blazers rushed for 88 yards in the fourth quarter, and 203 on the ground overall.
Next up for the Blazers is a trip to Kentucky to take on the Wildcats next Saturday.
BOX SCORE
| UAB Blazers at South Carolina Gamecocks |
| Oct 12, 2013 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| #6 UAB Blazers (7-0) | 17 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
| South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 24 |
| Team Stats Comparison |
| UAB | SCAR |
| Total Offense | 422 | 291 |
| Rushing Yards | 203 | 131 |
| Passing Yards | 219 | 160 |
| First Downs | 14 | 13 |
| Punt Return Yards | 1 | 0 |
| Kick Return Yards | 77 | 193 |
| Total Yards | 500 | 484 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 5-7 | 4-10 |
| 4th Down Conversion | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| 2-Point Conversion | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 5-3-1 | 3-2-0 |
| Penalties | 4-35 | 0-0 |
| Posession Time | 15:54 | 12:06 |