Final Score: UAB 44, Rice 24

Birmingham, AL (Sports Network) - Joe Webb totaled 415 yards of offense and scored four touchdowns to guide the UAB Blazers in a 44-24 victory over the Rice Owls in Conference USA action at Legion Field.

Webb completed 12-of-15 pass attempts for 221 yards and two scores, while rushing 20 times for 194 yards and two more touchdowns. It was quite a performance by Webb, who set a C-USA record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,021 in 2008. Frantrell Forrest hauled in four balls for 64 yards and a two scores, as UAB (1-0, 1-0 CUSA) improved to 2-1 all-time versus Rice.

John Thomas Shepherd got the start under center for the Owls (0-1, 0-1), but he completed just 10-of-22 tosses for 81 yards and an interception. Nick Fanuzzi, an Alabama transfer, stepped in for Shepherd and found some success, throwing for 154 yards and a score on 12-of-20 passes. He also added a rushing touchdown. Toren Dixon hauled in nine balls for 65 yards for Rice, which saw its seven-game win streak come to an end.

UAB posted the lone points of the first quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run by Webb midway through the period.

Webb added to that run with a 71-yard scamper early in the second quarter. Moments later, he threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Forrest, giving the Blazers a 20-0 lead following a missed extra-point.

Rice finally got on the board midway through the frame with a 29-yard field goal by Clark Fangmeier.

The Blazers, though, struck one more time before the half, as Webb and Forrest connected for a second time, this one from 22 yards away.

The Owls tried to make a game of it following an eight-yard touchdown run by Fanuzzi early in the third quarter.

UAB pushed its lead 34-10 just under four minutes later, as Justin Brooks rushed seven yards for a score.

Rice countered with a four-yard touchdown run by Marcus Knox late in the period.

On the last play of the third quarter, Dexter Barnett rumbled 10 yards for a score, giving UAB a 41-17 lead heading into the final frame.

Josh Zahn added to the UAB' lead with a 41-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Luke Willson caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from Fanuzzi moments later, but Rice wouldn't get any closer in the 44-24 loss.

UAB rolled up 516 yards of total offense in the game, with 295 of those yards coming on the ground.