Hellums’ Three TDs Lead Football Past UAB for Convincing Conference Win

Saturday, October 4

Birmingham, Ala.

12:00 PM

Army West Point

2-3 , 1-2

UAB

2-3 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Army West Point

UAB

October 4, 2025 — Army football takes on American Conference opponent UAB in the first half at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. Photo: Danny Wild/Army football

Photo by: Danny Wild/Army football

Hellums’ Three TDs Lead Football Past UAB for Convincing Conference Win

October 04, 2025 | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Army West Point (2-3, 1-2 American) responded on the road to capture its first American Conference victory of the season, defeating the UAB Blazers (2-3, 0-2), 31-13 on Saturday afternoon at Protective Stadium.

Junior quarterback Cale Hellums came in off the bench to spark the Black Knights offense with three rushing touchdowns, rushing for a team-high 81 yards.

After going into halftime up just three, the Black Knights outscored the home team 21-7 in the second half. Army outgained UAB 247-103 on the ground, went 3-for-4 on fourth down conversion attempts, and got defensive stops on four or fewer plays into a drive on four separate occasions.

The Blazers drove inside the Black Knights' 25-yard line on the game's opening possession, but sophomore outside linebacker Cole Searight sacked quarterback Jalen Kitna to stall the march, leading to defensive lineman Jack Bousum blocking a UAB field-goal attempt to keep the game scoreless.

Army senior quarterback Dewayne Coleman made his second straight start under center, completing his only pass attempted and recording eight rushing attempts. But Hellums entered in the second quarter and would finish Saturday with the majority of snaps.

Running back Hayden Reed and slot back Noah Short each added 54 yards each. Slot back Samari Howard was Army's only pass catcher Saturday, with two receptions for 48 yards.

Reed helped the offense convert two third downs on the team's opening series — matching the Black Knights' total from last week's loss at East Carolina. The first quarter ended with Army still marching on a 15-play drive that reached the UAB 12. Early in the second quarter, Reed capped the 18-play, 74-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Army a 7-0 lead. The possession consumed 10:34, with 17 of the 18 plays coming on the ground. Army converted three third downs and two fourth downs to extend the drive.

Immediately following the score, Army's defense forced a quick three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense. The Black Knights then advanced to the UAB 37, but a holding penalty and subsequent intentional grounding call stalled the drive and forced a punt, giving the ball back to the Blazers after a touchback.

The Black Knight then defense feasted on UAB's next possession, accepting a holding penalty and forcing a punt after another three-and-out.

Hellums checked into the game for what was Army's third offensive possession of the afternoon, with 5:27 to play in the opening half. Once again however, the Black Knights' offense stalled in part due to a penalty, and they were forced to punt after just three plays.

Looking for some production after back-to-back punts, the Blazers drove 90 yards in just 1:52, punching the ball into the end zone and tying the contest with 1:16 before halftime. Kitna moved the sticks on a pair of third-and-long throws, including a 47-yard pass to Iverson Hooks to reach the Army 15-yard line just before the two-minute timeout. Kitna then completed the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Daisy.

Hellums and company took over on offense at their 31 with 1:10 on the clock and reached the UAB 29, after the signal caller picked up a fourth-and-1 with his legs on a sneak. Dawson Jones then connected on a 45-yard field goal—his career-long—with two seconds to play in the half to make it 10-7 Army before the break.

UAB took its first drive of the second half and marched 63 yards down to the Army 12. However, Blazers kicker Jonah Delange missed a 30-yard kick to tie the game as Army took over after UAB's second mishap on field goal tries of the day.

Hellums re-entered at QB on Army's second drive of the second half and found Howard for Army's biggest play of the day, a 41-yard pass down the right sideline to quickly get into UAB territory. Hellums would finish the drive himself on a 5-yard touchdown run for Army to extend the lead to two scores, 17-7. The scoring drive was a 9-play, 80-yard drive for the Black Knights.

On the ensuing kickoff, Army forced a fumble on the UAB return and kicker Anderson Britton recovered it — the Black Knights' first takeaway of the afternoon. Army started at the UAB 28 but stalled, initially lining up for a field goal. After a timeout, head coach Jeff Monken kept the offense on the field for a fourth-and-3 attempt. Hellums targeted Noah Short in the end zone, but the pass fell incomplete, and Army came away empty despite the prime field position.

Army's defense continued to shine as Gavin Shields intercepted a Kitna pass and returned it 21 yards down to the UAB 12. Hellums pounded in his second score of the afternoon on a one-yard sneak to extend Army's lead 24-7.

Looking for another stop on defense to continue momentum, UAB drove 52 yards to reach the Army 26, but on a fourth-and-6 play, Kitna's pass was ruled incomplete after an initial targeting foul on Shields was overturned by repla, handing the ball back to Army with 10:53 to play.

After pinning the Blazers at their own 20 following an ensuing Wagenseller punt with 7:24 on the clock, Army forced a turnover on downs upon allowing no net yards over the possession and took the football at UAB's 20 with 5:45 to go.

Army then put the finishing touch on Saturday's contest with a five-yard Hellums rushing touchdown, his third of the game with 4:10 to play, leaving plenty of breathing room despite a late UAB touchdown in the game's final minute.

GAME NOTES

Carrying the Flag: Outside linebacker Eric Ford led the Black Knights onto the field with the Black Flag.

Division of the Game: Army honored the 25th Infantry Division with helmet decals and headset logos. The 25th Infantry Division (nicknamed "Tropic Lightning") is a United States Army division based at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. The division, which was activated on 1 October 1941 in Hawaii, conducts military operations primarily in the Asia-Pacific region.

Army's opening drive touchdown of 18 plays was its longest of the season in both plays and in time of possession (10:34).
It was Army's first opening drive touchdown of the season.
Reed's 3-yard touchdown run was his third of the season, and ninth overall score of his career. Reed rushed 12 times for 54 yards (4.5 avg.).
Hellums' totaled his second multi-rushing touchdown performance of the season (Kansas State). Hellums has six rushing scores this season following his three TD game today.
Army's defense held the opposing offense scoreless in the first quarter for the first time in 2025.
Gavin Shields' interception marked the first of his career.
Army is 6-1 in road games since the start of 2024, the only loss coming last week at East Carolina.
Army has won its last four October games going back to last season.
Jack Bousum's field goal block was the first time Army has blocked a kick or punt this season, and the first since Elo Modozie blocked a field goal attempt vs. Notre Dame on November 23 a season ago.