BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB Blazers return to Protective Stadium on Saturday, October 4, looking to bounce back from a tough road stretch as they host the Army West Point Black Knights in an American Athletic Conference showdown. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.
Teams Seeking Conference Momentum
Both programs enter Saturday’s contest searching for their first conference victory of the season. UAB (2-2, 0-1 American) is coming off a bye week following a 56-24 loss at No. 15 Tennessee on September 20. Army (1-3, 0-2 American) looks to rebound from a 28-6 defeat at East Carolina on September 25.
The Blazers hold a commanding 5-1 advantage in the all-time series, but the Black Knights captured last season’s meeting with a decisive 44-10 victory. UAB will be eager to avenge that loss in front of their home crowd.
“We’re in desperate need of a win,” Army head coach Jeff Monken said Monday. “When a team experiences disappointment like we have, they want to experience success. Our players want to win, and I want to win. That’s really the mindset of where we’re at right now.”
Dilfer Emphasizes Bye Week Benefits
UAB head coach Trent Dilfer expressed satisfaction with how his team utilized the bye week to prepare for this critical conference matchup.
“We had a good bye week, got some really good work done in three practices, and then gave them some time to get away from football, which I think is important, and rest their bodies a little bit too,” Dilfer said Tuesday. “We came out of Tennessee a little more banged up than I thought. Some things popped up a couple days after, so we were able to rest some guys. We should be pretty darn healthy this week.”
Dilfer acknowledged the challenge of maintaining rhythm during a bye week but emphasized the importance of player health and mental freshness for the long season ahead.
Kitna Leading Elite Passing Attack
Senior quarterback Jalen Kitna has emerged as one of the nation’s premier signal-callers through four games. The 6-foot-5 veteran ranks fifth nationally in passing yards per game at 314.0, third in completions per game at 27.0, and 14th in completion percentage at 72.0 percent.
Kitna’s recent performance has been particularly impressive. Two weeks ago at Tennessee, he tied a school record with 38 completions while throwing for 364 yards and two touchdowns. The Tacoma, Washington native has now surpassed 300 passing yards in three consecutive games and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in every contest this season.
Monken acknowledged the challenge Kitna presents: “The quarterback’s terrific; I think he’s top five in the country for passing yards per game, top five in completions per game. He’s getting coached by a guy who’s an expert at it, and so they’re doing a really nice job.”
In just 12 career games at UAB, Kitna has already climbed to ninth all-time in career touchdown passes (25) and ninth in career completions (304).
Black Knights:
- East Carolina Dominates Army West Point in Primetime Thriller, 28-6
- Army Football Starts Season 0-2 at Michie Stadium for First Time Since 2015
- Army’s Heartbreak: North Texas Survives Overtime Thriller in West Point Slugfest
Establishing the Run Game
While UAB’s passing attack has flourished, Dilfer emphasized the need for better balance on offense.
“We have to run the ball. I’ve always believed in balance. I want to be a balanced offense,” Dilfer said. “It’s just hard to call runs when you’re not running well and you’re not getting movement. But yeah, I do think we have to be a little more stubborn with the run. And that’s really me. I need to call more runs and make sure that our week of practice, we’re giving our players the best chance to be successful in the run game.”
Running the football will be particularly important against Army’s ball-control offense, which can limit possessions and put pressure on opponents to score efficiently.
Emerging Weapons in the Passing Game
Wide receiver Brandon Hawkins Jr. has developed into a consistent threat for the Blazers. The junior recorded his best performance as a Blazer against Tennessee, hauling in seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. After redshirting two years ago and suffering a season-ending injury after just four games last season, Hawkins is now fully healthy and has compiled 17 receptions for 189 yards and a touchdown through four games.
Corri Milliner continues to be Kitna’s top target, while Iverson Hooks has also emerged as a reliable option in the passing attack.
Defensive Leaders Face Tough Test
Redshirt senior safety Pierre Royster anchors the UAB defense, leading the team with 29 tackles and ranking 11th in the American Conference at 7.25 tackles per game. Royster also recorded the Blazers’ first interception of the season in the Tennessee game.
Linebacker Devin Hightower (26 tackles) and defensive lineman Eamon Smalls (22 tackles) round out UAB’s top three tacklers. This trio will face a significant challenge against an Army rushing attack that ranks fourth nationally, averaging 286.3 yards per game on the ground.
Dilfer emphasized the need for collective improvement on defense: “Statistically, we’re not a very good defense, so everybody has to step up. We need to get the ball back, so that’ll be the point of emphasis. We have a lot of players we like; they’re working really hard. I would not criticize their work ethic, but now it needs to show up in production in the game.”
The coach also stressed the importance of creating disruptive plays: “We gotta get the ball back. We gotta force some disruptive plays; we gotta create more turnovers. The one thing that surprises me defensively is that in spring ball and in camp, they were very disruptive. They created a lot of negative plays for the offense.”
Army’s Relentless Playing Style
The Black Knights’ triple-option offense presents unique preparation challenges. UAB’s defense must maintain discipline and gap integrity to contain Army’s ground game, which features multiple ball carriers and misdirection.
Dilfer praised Army’s trademark toughness: “I think that’s the biggest thing when you play the Academies, especially Army—they just play so hard. They’re relentless with how they play football. The scoreboard doesn’t matter. They have a standard of effort, a standard of physicality that does not waver. So you have to match that.”
He added that the Navy game earlier this season provided valuable preparation: “The advantage is these off seasons, we were able to work Navy and Army a lot this off season. So it started really before spring ball. So the scheme adjustments aren’t new. They’re not foreign.”
Monken acknowledged his team’s fighting spirit despite the difficult start: “They fought their ass off. They haven’t quit, not in one game. They’ve kept fighting and kept playing, and I’ve been proud of them for that.”
Turnover Battle Will Be Critical
Both coaches identified the turnover margin as a key factor in Saturday’s outcome.
Monken was emphatic about his team’s need to win the turnover battle: “If there’s one thing we’ve got to improve collectively as a team, it’s the turnover battle. We’ve had games this year where we’ve turned the ball over three times and the other team none. We’ve got to win the turnover battle; that’s an important part of winning football games.”
For UAB, protecting the football while creating takeaways will be essential against an Army team that controls the clock and limits possessions.
Quarterback Challenges and Offensive Adjustments
Army’s offensive challenges extend beyond their defensive struggles. Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Cody Burley candidly discussed the team’s ongoing quarterback competition and offensive inconsistencies.
“We’re in an open competition phase,” Burley explained. “Unfortunately, at the quarterback position, we’ve been inconsistent. Both guys have shown glimpses, but both guys have also shown some poor play, so we’ve got to find who gives us the best chance to win and to play well.”
Burley drew parallels to past seasons, noting that quarterback experience is crucial to team success. “Anytime we’ve had guys who have played a significant amount, we’re much better in the following years,” he said. “Christian Anderson, Tyler, they had experience. When they didn’t, it was challenging.”
The offensive coordinator emphasized the importance of game experience: “Sometimes performance doesn’t show up in practice. The more game reps they get, the more experience they get, the better off they will be.”
Offensive Line and Running Game Development
Burley also addressed the challenges with Army’s offensive line and running game, acknowledging the difficulties of integrating new players and maintaining consistency.
“It’s about building chemistry on that unit with three new faces,” he said. “We can’t just go buy three new offensive linemen. Those guys have to get reps, and they have to gel together. I think the more they play together, the intent is the better they’ll play.”
He highlighted the quality of their opponents as a factor in their offensive struggles: “I think ECU will probably end the season as one of the top 25 defenses in the country. Kansas State was really talented. We’ve shown glimpses, and then we’ve shown some inconsistency.”
Practice and Preparation
Despite the challenges, Burley saw positive signs in the team’s recent practice. “I thought today’s practice was the most spirited and the best practice that we’ve had all year,” he said. “Mentally hitting the reset button, refocusing. We have one game to play, one practice to perform, and they’ve embodied that message.”
Leadership, he noted, comes from various positions: “You hear it from the offensive line, from Brady, PG, even Henry. Will Jeffcoat is a silent guy who showcases leadership through his work.”
Home Field Advantage
The Blazers have historically thrived in front of their home fans. Since Protective Stadium opened in 2021, UAB has compiled a 17-8 record in the venue. Dating back to the program’s return in 2017, the Blazers boast an impressive 38-9 mark in Birmingham, including a dominant 21-1 stretch from 2017-2020.
Under Dilfer, UAB is 9-5 at home. The Blazers will look to leverage the energy of their home crowd to slow down Army’s methodical offensive approach.
Monken acknowledged UAB’s home-field success: “They’re good at home. They play well at home. Their home record, as you can see from the statistics, they play really well there. So, a lot of challenges for us.”
Early Kickoff Shouldn’t Be an Issue for UAB
With an 11 a.m. CT kickoff, some might wonder if the early start could affect UAB’s performance. Dilfer dismissed those concerns.
“We should be good in early kicks. We were an early morning practice team. Our players are in the building at 6 every day,” Dilfer said. “So this should not be hard for us. Their body clock should be fine. It’s just a matter of their minds being right.”
Broadcast Information
Saturday’s game will be televised on ESPNU with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst) on the call. Locally, fans can tune in to WJOX 94.5 FM, where David Crane, Bryant Turner, and Landrum Roberts will provide coverage.
Looking Ahead
This conference matchup carries significant implications for both programs. UAB seeks to establish momentum in American Conference play, while Army looks to secure its first conference victory and turn around a challenging start to the season.
Dilfer set high expectations for his team’s preparation this week: “I think this is a really critical week of practice for us to be honest with you. I thought the bye week was good. I do really believe in my heart of hearts that we got better at some things, but they have to show up today ready, fired up about being here. They got to show up today with a chip on their shoulder.”
With Kitna’s hot hand, an emerging receiving corps, and the comfort of Protective Stadium, the Blazers appear poised to reclaim superiority in this series. However, the Army’s ground-oriented attack and physical style of play will test UAB’s defensive resolve for four quarters.
Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, October 4, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
Game Prediction: Army 48 – UAB 7
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🏈 Go Black Knights!
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