[gorillapittpray]

THE CAMPUS GAZETTE
UAB UNIVERSITY NEWSPAPER

Saturday, August 30th 2014


THE FALL OF TROY:

BLAZERS DOMINATE TROY IN SEASON OPENER 72-10

_____________________
ASSOCIATED PRESS ____

BIRMINGHAM, AL - Troy fell today but no gift of a Trojan horse was needed Adam Dyks threw for 364 yards and six touchdowns and a swarming Blazer defense racked up five sacks a safety and a pick six as UAB dominated Troy by a score of 72-10 Saturday night at Legion Field.
With the complete performance, UAB improved to 4-0 in season openers since Rhatigan became head coach.

The Blazer's won their 20th-consecutive game at Legion Field. Dyks completed 10 of 21 of his passes and surpassed the 300-yard mark in the third quarter.
Sophomore receiver Travis Jackson was Dyks top target on the night, hauling in a career-high four receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns.

(TRAVIS JACKSON HAD A BIG DAY FOR THE BLAZERS FINGER TIP CATCHING THIS 61 YARDER)

Senior running back Matthew Scott led the ground attack with 139 yards while backup Cody Gore rushed for 71 yards and a score.
The Blazer defense held the Trojans to only three points after giving up and touchdown on the games first possession. Troy got 266 total yards, with just 8 coming on the ground.
Sophomore defensive back Carl Holycross registered his first pick six of his career. Linebacker's Cortez Means and Timi McCollum were all over the field both recording four tackles and a sack.
--
(THE BLAZER DEFENSE LED BY CARL HOLYCROSS *LEFT* COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN THE TROJAN ATTACK)

The defensive line provided pressure the entire contest, as junior Phillip Mason and senior Tom Cox combined for 3.5 of the team's five sacks.
The Blazers set the tempo from the start, after giving up a 7 play 79 yard drive to Troy to start the game the Blazers needed only two plays as Dyks hit Matt Ford for a 16-yard touchdown, this coming after a 52 yard run from Matthew to start the Blazer drive.
UAB quickly struck again as Safety Carl Holycross ignited the crowd with his 32-yard interception return for a touchdown and the route was on, by the end of the first quarter UAB had a 28-7 advantage, Ford would catch his second touchdown from 61-yards out and the Blazer took a 42-10 lead into the half.

"It was like letting the dawgs loose." Senior linebacker Cortez Means said after playing his first game in Legion Field. "We felt disrespected coming into this season not ranked, so believe we have a chip on our shoulder."

UAB picked up where it left off to begin the second half, as the Blazers forced Troy to a third and 24 backing them up on their own two yard line, Troy would try to run for room but Tom Cox blew the play up as running back John Heinz tried to cut back, fellow defensive linemen Marcus Leak would finish the play dragging him down in the end zone for a safety.
"We were fired up today thats for sure." Safety Dominique Rhodes stated. The defense wasn't finished, the Trojans would get the back but would have to settle for a 48 yard field goal attempt the kick was short and corner Vince Jones scampered for a 100-yard touchdown to push the Blazer advantage to 51-10.
--
(FIVE SACKS AND MULTIPLE HURRIES HAD TROY QUARTER B. WALL ON HIS BACK MOST OF THE GAME)

Dyks would hit Travis Jackson a few more times for score before he was pulled as the back up got some much needed experience. UAB rolled up 592 total yards without committing a turnover or getting a sack against the Trojans. The defense also held Troy and their fast paced offensive attack to just 3 of 14 on third downs.
"This is my first head coaching job, but I've been the coordinator here for a few years." Said Troy head coach Jonathon Gray. "I'm telling you, this is the best looking team I've faced in a few years. Rhatigan has a good team over there and the country better take notice."
UAB travels to Columbus next week to take on the No. 22 ranked Buckeye's at 3:30 p.m

BOX SCORE:

	1	2	4	F
Troy	7	3	0	10
UAB	28	14	14	72

Quick Stats	UAB	TROY
Total Yards	592	266
Passing Yards	379	258
Rushing Yards	213	8
First Downs	12	10
Turnovers	0	1
3rd Down Conversions	4-7	3-14
4th Down Conversions	0-0	0-1
Sacks	5	0
Time of Possession	11:47	17:59

Statistical Leaders -UAB
Passing	C-A	Yards	TD/Int	Long
A. Dyks L. Willis	10-21 2-2	364 15	6/0 1/0	83 12
Rushing	Rushes	Yards	TD	Long
M. Scott	13	139	0	52
C. Gore	7	71	1	40
Receiving	Rec	Yards	TD	Long
T. Jackson	4	159	3	68
C. Ostrander	3	45	0	23
M. Ford	2	77	2	61
Defensive	Tackles	Sacks	TFL	TO
D. Rhodes	7	0	3	0
C. Holycross	6	0	2	1-INT
P. Mason	3	2.0	3	0

Statistical Leaders - Troy
Passing	C-A	Yards	TD/Int	Long
B. Wall	18-30	258	0/1	36
Rushing	Rushes	Yards	TD	Long
J. Heinz	14	53	1	27
Receiving	Rec	Yards	TD	Long
J. Davis	8	98	0	36
N. Robinson	3	49	0	30
A. Foster	3	56	0	33
Defensive	Tackles	Sacks	TFL	TO
D. Bryant	5	0	0	0
J. Jackson	5	0	0	0
J. Griffith	4	0	0	0

kkk