Second-Half Surge Becoming UAB’s Calling Card

By Steve Irvine

October 9, 2026 - BIRMINGHAM, AL

Winning the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, has been a mark of UAB’s football season thus far.

Take away the season-opening loss to Illinois, where UAB got outscored 21-10 after halftime and didn’t score a second half touchdown until the final seconds of a convincing loss, and the Blazers have been the better team in the second half of all their games. Combine all the second halves this season, including the Illinois game, and UAB outscored their opponents 60-31 after halftime. Take away the Illinois game and it’s 50-10. UAB hasn’t allowed a fourth quarter point since giving up 14 to Illinois and won the final period by a combined 44-0 over the past four games. Seven of those fourth quarter points at Illinois came on an interception return by the Illini.

UAB beat Louisiana-Monroe by scoring 13 fourth quarter points and the Blazers had 17 of their 20 second half points in the final quarter. The Blazers didn’t allow a second half point in a road loss at Louisiana, which kept them in position to nearly erase a 14-point halftime deficit. The Navy game was largely won because of a pair of fourth quarter turnovers forced by defensive end Marlin Dean and a 48-yard touchdown run by Bam McReynolds.

Alex Mortensen there are a few layers to his UAB team’s second half success.

“One, we talked about the prerequisite for effort is conditioning,” Mortensen said. “We worked really hard on building conditioning in the off-season. Some of it goes back to winter, some of it's how we handled June and July. I think Coach Lyle Henley's done an excellent job, and Bryant Novick and Santonio (Jones), that whole strength staff. Then some things we did as a team too. I also think there's a psychological component with the players. We really do try to create this mindset of being a relentless competitor. I think a multitude of guys have bought into that.”

Mortensen said there’s also a “schematic and tactical component to that.”

“I think that's where the staff on both sides of the ball, Coach Grantham and the defensive staff, the offensive staff, have done a good job tactically making any adjustments or tweaks,” Mortensen added. “Some people talk about halftime adjustments maybe being overstated. But they still can be a factor in a game. Then it's also not just enough for the coaches to be able to make those adjustments, but the players have to be able to keep up with them and execute them. I think it's really all of those things factor in and hopefully we can continue to build on that.”

They will be challenged on Saturday in the Battle for the Bones rivalry at Memphis. The Tigers outscored UNLV, 20-7, after halftime in a 27-21 Memphis victory. Memphis outscored Arkansas State, 21-7 in the second half after the Tigers built a 21-17 lead at halftime  Overall, Memphis has outscored opponents, 87-57, in the second half. Their biggest second half hiccup came in their only loss of the season. Boise State outscored Memphis, 21-0, in a 38-20 win over the Tigers.