UAB Wins 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia – UAB combined a strong defensive effort with a workhorse running back and a few big passing plays to create victory at Marshall on Friday night, as the Blazers became Conference USA Champions for the second time in three seasons with a 22-13 win over the Thundering Herd in the 2020 Ryan C-USA Football Championship.

UAB senior RB Spencer Brown was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after he carried 30 times for 149 yards. Six of his runs resulted in first downs. Brown becomes the first player in C-USA Championship history to be named MVP twice, as he also won the award after UAB won the 2018 Championship Game at Middle Tennessee.

The Blazers defense a Marshall that came in averaging 424.6 yards of total offense per game to just 268 total yards. UAB would allow just eight passes to be completed in 24 attempts, recording seven quarterback hurries, one interception and six pass breakups. The defensive effort was a true team effort, with six different players recording a defended pass and seven different players registering a QB hurry.

The big play passing came in the form of a tandem between junior QB Tyler Johnston III and junior WR Trae Shropshire. The duo connected five times, producing 180 yards and one touchdown. Shropshire established a new C-USA Championship record for yards per catch at 36.0, reeling in passes of 71, 39, 38, 17 and 15 yards.

UAB opened the game’s scoring with a 30-yard field goal from redshirt freshman K Matt Quinn late in the first quarter as the Blazers closed out the lowest-scoring opening quarter in C-USA Championship history holding a 3-0 advantage.

On its first possession of the second quarter, UAB extended its lead to 9-0 with Johnston III arcing a 19-yard touchdown pass to senior TE Hayden Pittman, who was open behind the defender in the end zone. The TD toss completed an 80-yard drive in just six plays.

Midway through the third quarter, Marshall took advantage of a UAB miscue, as LB Eli Neal fell on a fumbled snap at midfield, to set up the Thundering Herd’s first score. Marshall QB Grant Wells shook off the rust of an 0-for-10 start throwing the ball with a 9-yard completion to WR Artie Burns on second down and then four plays later he rolled to his right and hit a diving Henry in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The six-play, 49-yard drive in 2:06 cut the UAB lead to 9-7.

On the next possession, the Blazers would follow up by extending their lead. They key play on the 10-play, 50-yard drive came on 3rd and eight from the UAB 38 as Johnston III threw a 39-yard pass into the outstretched arms of WR Trae Shropshire for a first down at the MU 23-yard line. Four plays later, Quinn made his eighth consecutive field goal attempt, a 42-yarder that gave UAB a 12-7 advantage.

After holding Marshall on its next possession, UAB completed a 12-play, 40-yard drive with another field goal. Quinn made in nine in a row for the freshman by connecting on a career-long 49-yarder to make it 15-7.

That score was short-lived, as Wells threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Xavier Gaines on first down on the next series. The Herd attempted a two-point conversion to tie, but Wells’ pass fell incomplete in the end zone and it was 15-13, UAB in the lead.

UAB would answer with its own 70+-yard scoring play on the ensuing possession. Faced with a 3rd-and-6 at the UAB 29-yard line, Johnston III threw a 71-yard scoring strike down the right sideline, allowing UAB to go up 22-13.

Wells threw a pair of touchdown passes for Marshall and junior RB Brenden Knox ran for 67 yards on 17 carries. Defensively, senior LB Tavante Beckett and senior DB Nazeeh Johnson each led all tacklers with 13.

Marshall and UAB will find out their bowl destinations soon. They will join five other Conference USA teams that have already accepted bowl bids.