The ninth annual HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl was a one-score game the entire second half and wasn’t decided until the game’s final play, as UAB edged Miami, 24-20. The Blazers (7-6) wrapped up their 2022 season with a winning record for interim head coach Bryant Vincent.
UAB cruised to a 10-0 first quarter lead, but the RedHawks (6-7) steadily climbed back into the game and each team held the lead at multiple points in the second half. The Blazers went on top on their final drive on Jermaine Brown, Jr.’s 12-yard TD rush with 1:33 to play. That was set up by a 49-yard pass from Dylan Hopkins to offensive MVP Trea Shropshire, who had a bowl record 183 yards receiving.
Miami made a determined effort for a walk-off win as Aveon Smith guided the RedHawks to the UAB 15 yard line with one second to play. He found Jalen Walker over the middle, but Blazers’ linebacker Reynard Ellis tackled Walker two yards short of the end zone as time expired.
Michael Fairbanks II earned defensive MVP honors for UAB with seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and a key blocked extra point in the second quarter.
Score by Quarter 1 2 3 4 TOT
Miami 0 6 7 7 20
UAB 10 0 0 14 24
Team Statistics Miami UAB
First Downs 19 24
Rushing: Att-Yds-TD 37-110-1 38-138-2
Passing: Comp-Att-Int 15-27-0 17-28-1
Net Yards Passing 162 252
Offensive Plays – Yards 64-272 66-390
Fumbles – Lost 0-0 3-2
Penalties – Yards 5-50 7-75
Time of Possession 26:40 33:20
Individual Statistics
Rushing
MIA: Smith 22-50; Shelton 8-31; Mozee 3-16; Davis 3-9 (1 TD); Tracy 1-4
UAB: Brown, Jr. 24-116 (2 TD); Witherspoon 5-27; Hopkins 4-7; Gates 2-(-1); Zeno 3-(-11)
Passing
MIA: Smith 15-27-162 (2 TD)
UAB: Hopkins 16-24-204 (1 TD, 1 INT); Zeno 1-4-48
Receiving
MIA: Hippenhammer 2-48 (1 TD); Davis 4-39; Walker 4-30; Tracy 3-22 (1 TD); Coldiron 1-15; Marshall 1-13
UAB: Shropshire 6-183 (1 TD); Farrier II 2-20; Boykin 2-19; Palmer 3-18; Brown Jr. 2-6; McDonald 1-3; Payne 1-3