Army Overpowers UAB in Second Half Surge, Wins 31–13 at Protective Stadium

BIRMINGHAM, AL. - October 4, 2025 - The UAB Blazers fell to the Army Black Knights 31–13 on Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium, undone by a second-half surge led by Army quarterback Cale Hellums and a disciplined Black Knights defense that kept UAB's high-powered passing attack in check.

The loss drops UAB to 2–3 overall and 0–2 in American Athletic Conference play, while Army improves to 2–3 and picks up its first conference win of the season.

A Tale of Two Halves

The first half was a tightly contested affair. Army opened the scoring midway through the second quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run by Hayden Reed, capping an 18-play, 74-yard drive that drained over 10 minutes off the clock. UAB responded with a 90-yard drive of its own, finished by a 1-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jalen Kitna to wide receiver Xavier Daisy.

Army added a 45-yard field goal just before halftime to take a 10–7 lead into the locker room.

But the second half belonged to the Black Knights. Hellums, who finished with 98 rushing yards and three touchdowns, scored on runs of 5, 1, and 5 yards in the third and fourth quarters. Army capitalized on a missed UAB field goal and an interception by Gavin Shields, which set up short-field scoring opportunities.

UAB managed a late touchdown on a 1-yard run by Ryder Burton, but failed the two-point conversion attempt, sealing the final score at 31–13.

Coach Dilfer: "We Got Out-Executed"

UAB Head Coach Trent Dilfer didn't mince words in his postgame remarks.

"We got out-executed in every phase of the game in the second half," Dilfer said. "Army is a team that thrives on discipline and ball control, and we didn't match their intensity or focus when it mattered most."

Dilfer praised Army's ability to control the tempo and limit UAB's possessions.

"They ran 18 plays on one drive and kept our offense off the field. That's not just execution - that's identity. We've got to find ours and stick to it," he said.

Despite the loss, Dilfer remained confident in his team's potential.

"We've got talent. We've got heart. But we've got to clean up the details - penalties, missed assignments, red zone execution. That's on me and the staff to fix," he added.

Statistical Breakdown

Army dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 36:51 compared to UAB's 23:09. The Black Knights rushed for 265 yards and passed for just 48, relying heavily on their triple-option attack.

Hellums led all rushers with 22 carries for 98 yards and three scores. Reed added 54 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

UAB's Jalen Kitna, who entered the game ranked fifth nationally in passing yards, was held to 259 yards on 24-of-42 passing, with one touchdown and one interception. Running back Jermaine Jackson added 95 rushing yards on 13 carries.

UAB committed 11 penalties for 73 yards and converted just 6 of 14 third downs. Army was more efficient, converting 5 of 13 and committing only 7 penalties.

Defensive Struggles and Missed Opportunities

UAB's defense struggled to contain Army's methodical ground game, particularly in the second half. The Blazers also missed a key field goal and failed to capitalize on a few promising drives.

"We had chances," Dilfer said. "But you've got to finish drives, and you've got to get off the field on third down. We didn't do either consistently."

Dilfer also addressed the interception thrown by Kitna in the third quarter, which led to a short-field touchdown for Army.

"That was a momentum killer," he said. "We were driving, and one mistake flipped the game."

Looking Ahead

UAB will look to regroup as they prepare for their next conference matchup. Dilfer emphasized the importance of learning from the loss and building resilience.

"This is a gut-check moment for our program," he said. "We've got to respond the right way - with accountability, toughness, and unity."

Army, meanwhile, will aim to build on the win as they continue their AAC campaign.