The Postgame Report: Illinois 42, UAB 23

UAB went into Champaign and outgained a Big Ten team by 81 yards — and lost by 19. The Blazers (0-1) piled up 413 total yards, held the ball for 41 minutes, ran 79 plays to Illinois' 43 and cut the deficit to 14-13 with 18 seconds left in the second quarter after Ryder Burton hit Rod Robinson II for a 10-yard touchdown. Then the final play of the half changed the game.

Katin Houser heaved a 54-yard Hail Mary to Ty Robinson as time expired. UAB defenders were in position to knock the ball down but went for the interception instead, and the ball popped into Robinson's hands on the rebound. That made it 21-13 at halftime. Illinois (1-0) scored on its opening possession of the third quarter and the Blazers never recovered, falling 42-23 in the season opener before 52,673 at Gies Memorial Stadium.

The box score tells a story the scoreboard does not. UAB had 24 first downs to Illinois' 17. The Blazers were 10-of-19 on third down. The running game produced 194 yards. But nine penalties for 69 yards — against Illinois' one for four — and three explosive plays that produced 21 Illini points were the difference.

WHAT IT MEANS

UAB can move the ball with anyone on its schedule — outgaining a Big Ten team on the road proves that. But nine penalties to one, three field goals in five red-zone trips and 21 points off a punt return to create a short field, a Hail Mary and a pick-six is how a team that dominates the stat sheet loses by three scores. The Blazers had a good plan, and they executed it well most of the time. But too many mistakes made a competitive game look like a blowout.

THE TURNING POINT

The Hail Mary, end of the second quarter. UAB had just pulled within 14-13 on Burton's touchdown pass to Robinson and had all the momentum. The Blazers needed to get to the locker room trailing by one. Instead, Houser launched a 54-yard prayer on the final play of the half. UAB defenders were in position but tried to intercept instead of knocking it down. The ball popped up and Ty Robinson came down with it on the rebound. A one-point deficit became 21-13 at halftime. Illinois then marched 75 yards in 11 plays on the opening possession of the third quarter to make it 28-13. In the span of one play and one drive, a fight became a chase.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY

Good: UAB's offense outgained Illinois 413-332 and held the ball for 41:03 to Illinois' 18:57. Burton was 18-of-31 for 219 yards, a touchdown and an interception with 38 rushing yards and another score on 12 carries. Robinson (14 carries, 59 yards) and McReynolds (13-56) gave the Blazers a balanced ground game that averaged 4.0 yards per carry. Delange was 3-for-3 on field goals (26, 23 and 35 yards). This offense can play.

Bad: Nine penalties for 69 yards — to Illinois' one for four. A holding penalty on the opening drive wiped out a big gain into the red zone, UAB got sacked out of field goal range and had to punt, and Illinois got a 65-yard punt return on the next play. A procedure penalty moved UAB from second-and-goal at the 2 and the Blazers settled for a field goal instead of a touchdown. UAB reached the red zone five times and scored touchdowns twice. The other three were field goals. That is at least 12 points left on the field.

Ugly: Three plays that produced 21 Illinois points — Mac Resetich's 65-yard punt return that set up the first Illini score, the Hail Mary at the end of the half and Ismael Kante's 59-yard pick-six in the fourth quarter. A special teams breakdown, a coverage miscommunication and a turnover. Illinois needed just 43 plays to score 42 points. The Illini averaged 7.7 yards per play. When you gift a team like that free possessions, you lose.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

43 plays, 42 points — Illinois needed fewer offensive snaps than UAB had first downs. Only two of the Illini's six touchdowns came on sustained drives. The other four came on three-play possessions or weren't offensive plays at all. Illinois didn't grind UAB down. It made the Blazers pay for every mistake instantly.

9-69 vs. 1-4 — Penalties. UAB was flagged nine times for 69 yards. Illinois was flagged once for four. The opening drive alone: a holding call wiped out a gain into the red zone, a sack pushed UAB out of field goal range, the Blazers punted and Illinois returned it 65 yards. Three plays later it was 7-0. One flag started a sequence that put UAB in a hole before its offense could blink.

10-of-19 on third down — UAB converted 52.6 percent of its third downs. The offense moved the chains all night. Drives didn't stall because of execution — they stalled because penalties created second-and-15 and third-and-long situations that even a good conversion rate couldn't overcome.

WHAT THEY SAID

Alex Mortensen, UAB head coach:

"I really liked the way we responded. We talk about having a no-scoreboard mentality. Each play has a history and a life of its own. Play with relentless effort. It doesn't matter what the scoreboard says. I thought our guys did that. But again, we didn't come here for a moral victory or to feel like, 'Hey, we kept it close for a little while.' We wanted to compete and try to win this game."

3 STARS

1. Ryder Burton, QB, UAB — 18-of-31 passing for 219 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Added 38 rushing yards and a 5-yard touchdown run on 12 carries. Connected with CJ Smith on a 42-yard strike, the longest play of the night for UAB. Competed from start to finish in a Big Ten environment.

2. Rod Robinson II, RB, UAB — Led UAB with 59 yards on 14 carries and caught the 10-yard touchdown that pulled the Blazers within 14-13 before the half. Set the tone on the opening drive with three carries for 25 yards.

3. Jonah Delange, K, UAB — Perfect 3-for-3 on field goals (26, 23 and 35 yards). When penalties pushed UAB out of the end zone, Delange kept points on the board.

FINAL TAKEAWAYS

UAB's offense proved it belongs. The Blazers outgained a Big Ten team on the road, sustained drives all night and moved the ball in every phase. Burton looked composed in a hostile environment and the ground game was balanced between Robinson and McReynolds. The line gave up some pressure, but overall held up pretty well against a Power 4 defense. The running game was expected to be the team strength, and it isn't difficult to envision this ground attack being potent against league competition.

The defense looks much improved, even though the scoreboard didn't show it. It got fourth-down stops. It got some pressure on Houser. But the busted coverages and big plays were costly. Illinois made the Blazers pay for mistakes in the worst possible way: Points.

The problems are correctable. The Blazers were in this game at halftime and could have been leading if not for the self-inflicted damage.

An injury to watch: UAB starting OT Payton Kirkland left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury. He was replaced by Keyon Cox and did not return.

No team on the Blazers' remaining schedule has Illinois' roster. If UAB cleans up the penalties and converts in the red zone, this team wins games.

NEXT UP

UAB hosts ULM (and former interim head coach Bryant Vincent) on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham. Kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT.