University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
4-5 , 3-3
UAB
9-1 , 7-0
Golden Eagles Fall to UAB in Overtime 26-23
11/10/2018 11:54:00 PM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.-- Spencer Brown's 17-yard touchdown run gave UAB a 26-23 victory in overtime over Southern Miss Saturday night at Legion Field.
Southern Miss (4-5, 3-3 Conference USA) had tied the score 20-20 on Stephen Anderson's 2-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Golden Eagles took a 23-20 lead on Parker Shaunfield's third field goal of the game, a 37-yarder, on the first possession of the extra period.
But Brown ran for 25 yards on three carries, including the game-winner.
With their eighth-straight victory, the Blazers (9-1, 7-0) clinched C-USA's West Division title for the first time in program history.
Southern Miss freshman quarterback Tate Whatley started his second consecutive game in place of injured starter Jack Abraham.
Whatley's 19-yard touchdown pass to Quez Watkins in the first quarter helped the Golden Eagles build a 13-0 lead. It was Watkins' ninth touchdown catch of the season.
UAB cut the lead to 13-7 at halftime, and then clamped down in the second half, holding the Golden Eagles to 24 yards and outscoring USM 13-0 to take a 20-13 after three quarters.
Whatley, who wound up sacked seven times, completed 16-of-38 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown with an interception.
Ky'el Hemby's interception at midfield midway through the fourth quarter set up Anderson's game-tying touchdown.
Hemby's was one of three interceptions by the Golden Eagles Saturday, including a last-minute interception at USM 22-yard line that Ty Williams returned to the UAB 36-yard line.
But two snaps later, Whatley was intercepted in the end zone on what turned out to be the final play of regulation.
Southern Miss, which must win its final two games to qualify for postseason consideration, will return home for the final time to welcome Louisiana Tech University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Team Stats
USM 7, UAB 0
USM - WATKINS, Quez 19 yd pass from WHATLEY, Tate (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick) 4 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:54
USM 10, UAB 0
USM - SHAUNFIELD, P. 33 yd field goal 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 4:31
USM 13, UAB 0
USM - SHAUNFIELD, P. 38 yd field goal 9 plays, 24 yards, TOP 3:35
USM 13, UAB 7
UAB - JOHNSTON III, T 1 yd run (VOGEL, Nick kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:43
USM 13, UAB 10
UAB - VOGEL, Nick 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 1:33
USM 13, UAB 17
UAB - CARTER, Kailon 35 yd pass from JOHNSTON III, T (VOGEL, Nick kick) 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:16
USM 13, UAB 20
UAB - VOGEL, Nick 30 yd field goal 10 plays, 30 yards, TOP 5:25
USM 20, UAB 20
USM - ANDERSON, S. 2 yd run (SHAUNFIELD, P. kick), 11 plays, 50 yards, TOP 4:10
USM 23, UAB 20
USM - SHAUNFIELD, P. 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 0 yards, TOP 15:04
USM 23, UAB 26
UAB - BROWN, Spencer 17 yd run (), 8 plays, 0 yards, TOP 15:04
