BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- James Walley's one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter Saturday helped lift Southern Mississippi to a 20-13 Conference USA victory over Alabama-Birmingham.
Backup quarterback Micky D'Angelo helped engineer the five-play, 80-yard drive that ended in Walley's touchdown with long completions to LeRoy Handy and Chris Johnson. D'Angelo completed four of eight passes for 133 yards in relief of Dustin Almond, who was ineffective for the Golden Eagles.
Southern Mississippi (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) opened up a 10-0 lead on a trick play when wide receiver Karlin Riley took a handoff and threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Young. Young hauled in his sixth touchdown of the season and had three catches for 60 yards.
Quarterback Darrell Hackney's one-yard touchdown plunge cut the deficit to 10-7 for UAB (4-5, 3-2) after one quarter and a 30-yard field goal by Nick Hayes tied it at halftime.
Hayes had another field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Blazers their first lead at 13-10. Hayes, a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, has converted all 11 field goal attempts this season.
After Walley's short touchdown, Southern Miss used a 12-play, 80-yard drive to extend its lead to 20-13 on a 25-yard field goal by Curt Jones with 71 seconds to go. The Golden Eagles took five minutes and 23 seconds off the clock and the Blazers never recovered.
Hackney completed just 11 of 28 passes for 138 yards and was sacked four times. Roddy White had six receptions for 80 yards, both career highs.
