Blazers outlast Thundering Herd, 38-31

Published 12:02 am Monday, November 12, 2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Darrin Reaves rushed for 184 yards and two scores and Alabama-Birmingham withstood a late Marshall barrage to win 38-31 Saturday.

The Blazers (3-7, 2-4 Conference USA) led 31-7 with 5:23 left in the third quarter.

Within 2 minutes, the Thundering Herd roared back with a 10-yard TD pass from Rakeem Cato to Jazz King, followed by Kevin Grooms’ 7-yard TD run and Justin Haig’s 38-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining.

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Reaves answered with a 17-yard TD, capping an 11-play, 80-yard drive with 2:50 left to set a single-season UAB touchdown record with 12.

Marshall (4-6, 1-5) then moved downfield quickly and efficiently, with Cato connecting with Tommy Shuler on 30- and 19-yard plays before finding Gator Hoskins for a 3-yard TD with 1:41 remaining.

UAB recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

The Blazers’ Austin Brown threw two TD passes and Jackie Williams had a 79-yard punt return.

Oklahoma St. 55, West Virginia 34

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Clint Chelf threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start, and Josh Stewart had a career-high 172 receiving yards and scored three TDs as Oklahoma State handed West Virginia its fourth straight loss, 55-34 Saturday.

Geno Smith was 36 of 54 for 364 yards and two touchdowns for the Mountaineers (5-4, 2-4), who gave up 55 points for the second time in three weeks. Stedman Bailey caught 14 of Smith’s passes for 225 yards and a score.

Stewart had 13 catches, including touchdowns of 21 and 20 yards. He also scored on a 46-yard run.