NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Jerron Seymour ran for a pair of first-half touchdowns to lead Vanderbilt to a 52-24 win over Alabama-Birmingham Saturday night.
Seymour started the game's scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. With just over nine minutes remaining in the second Seymour took a direct snap and ran for a 58-yard score on the only play of that drive.
It was the first career two-touchdown game for the sophomore, who set a career high with 107 yards rushing.
Vanderbilt quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels ran for a touchdown and threw for two more, completing 23-29 passes for a career high 334 yards.
Carta-Samuels' second touchdown pass went to Jordan Matthews, who tied a Vanderbilt record with his 21st career touchdown reception.
Ty Long kicked three field goals for the Blazers (1-3, 0-0 Conference USA) in the game. After connecting from 33 yards late in the first quarter, Long hit on a 20-yard field goal with 9:23 remaining in the second and again from 37 in the third.
That field goal came after UAB drove 72 yards in nine plays and had a first-and-goal from the Vanderbilt 5-yard line. After the ensuing kickoff, the Blazers were stung by Seymour's long touchdown run.
UAB had two fourth quarter touchdowns.
Jonathan Perry connected with Darius Powell on a 29-yard strike early in the final quarter. A Perry pass to Kennard Backman gave the Blazers the two-point conversion.
With just over a minute left in the game, Perry connected with Jamari Staples from 17 yards.
The Commodores struck just before halftime when quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels ran for a 1-yard touchdown with five seconds remaining in the second quarter. It was the senior's fourth touchdown on the ground this season.
In addition to his running touchdown, Carta-Samuels threw for two more, completing 23-29 passes for a career high 334 yards. He also threw an interception.
Carta-Samuels' second touchdown pass went to Jordan Matthews, who tied a Vanderbilt record with his 21st career touchdown reception. The senior wide receiver is now tied with Dan Stricker atop the Commodores' list for all-time touchdown catches.
Senior wide receiver Jonathan Krause set a career-high with 108 yards receiving in the game, his second-consecutive game with more than 100 yards.
Wesley Tate and Patton Robinette also had rushing touchdowns for the Commodores.
UAB freshman running back Jordan Howard led the Blazers on the ground with 92 yards, a season high. He had a 52-yard run in the first quarter.
Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-2 SEC) has won seven consecutive games against non-SEC opponents. They will play their next six games against conference foes.
UAB is 2-19 all-time against SEC opponents. Saturday's game concluded the non-league portion of their schedule.