Ryder Burton Leads UAB to Overtime Victory Over East Carolina

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) defeated East Carolina 30-17 in an exciting overtime game on Thursday night. Ryder Burton threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Rod Robinson II in overtime, while Delvon Gulley returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown to help UAB secure the victory.

East Carolina started the game strongly and scored a touchdown on its opening drive to take an early lead. The team extended its advantage to 14-0 early in the second quarter after recovering a fumble in the end zone. UAB struggled to keep up with East Carolina’s early scoring but continued to fight back.

UAB began to close the gap with the help of kicker Jonah Delange, who scored field goals to keep his team in the game. Despite its efforts, UAB went into halftime trailing East Carolina 14-3.

After the break, UAB improved its performance and continued to score points. The team gradually reduced East Carolina’s lead, bringing the score closer as the game moved into the final quarter. East Carolina tried to maintain its advantage, but UAB refused to give up.

With just 35 seconds remaining, Burton led an important final drive for UAB. He completed a touchdown pass that brought the score to 17-17, sending the game into overtime and giving his team another chance to win.

In overtime, Burton connected with Robinson II on a 6-yard touchdown pass to put UAB ahead. Gulley then made a major defensive play by intercepting an East Carolina pass and returning it 80 yards for another touchdown. These crucial plays helped UAB finish the game with a 30-17 victory.

Burton completed 18 of his 36 passes for 256 yards and played a key role in UAB’s comeback. CJ Smith also contributed strongly, catching eight passes for 119 yards. For East Carolina, Emory Williams threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns, but the team could not hold on to its lead during the closing stages.

With this victory, UAB improved its record to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the American Conference. East Carolina dropped to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

UAB will next face South Florida on October 31, while East Carolina will travel to play Memphis next week.