TicketsUC Hangs on for Victory over West Virginia
Bearcats overcome five turnovers, capitalize on Mountaineer mistakes.
Contact: Tom Hathaway
9/13/2003
Chet Ervin kicks one of his three field goals in Saturday's 15-13 win over West Virginia. |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ? Cincinnati hung on to the football just barely enough to grasp a hard-fought 15-13 win over West Virginia Saturday before 51,189 at Mountaineer Field.
The victory, which upped the Bearcats' record to 2-0, was UC's first ever over the Mountaineers. West Virginia, which maintains an 11-1-1 lead in the series, fell to 1-2.
The game featured a total of 10 turnovers?five by each team?and a pair of missed PAT's, plus 14 penalties evenly divided between the two squads.
While the offenses of both teams sputtered, UC's defense rose to the occasion to make the difference in the victory. The Bearcats limited West Virginia to 243 yards of total offense and a mere 118 yards rushing, less than half of the Mountaineers' season average.
Cincinnati's kicking game, led by Chet Ervin, also provided a major boost. Ervin punted 10 times for a 42.5-yard average. The sophomore booted three field goals in three tries.
Ervin provided the game-winning points with his 37-yard field goal with 1:59 remaining in the third quarter.
Stymied most of the afternoon by UC's attacking defense, West Virginia stung the Cats with a 48-yard TD pass play, Rasheed Marshall-to-Travis Garvin.
The play ignited the Mountaineers, who held the UC offense to minus-four yards on the Bearcats' next possession. With fourth down on the UC 16, Ervin's 45-yard punt gave the defense better field position from which to make a stand.
UC eventually forced WVU to punt, then put together an eight-play, 64-yard drive, culminated by Ervin's kick, to reclaim the lead.
Cincinnati had a chance to open up a little breathing room early in the fourth quarter. Jamar Enzor intercepted a pass and returned it 10 yards to the WVU 33. Gino Guidugli passed to Derrick Eddington for 9 yards and Eddington broke free for a 12-yard gain to help get the ball to the 10. Derick Ross caught a bubble screen pass from Guidugli and was heading for the goal line. He was hit at the one and fumbled into the end zone. The Mountaineers recovered.
West Virginia made one late drive into Cincinnati territory. Aided by a 27-yard punt return by Lance Frazier, the Mountaineers got the ball on the UC 49. WVU advanced to the 31, but UC's defense held. A 48-yard field goal attempt by Brad Cooper fell wide right.
"Our defense controlled this ball game," stated an elated UC head coach Rick Minter. "They came ready to play today. Any time you take a good running team like this and control the line, you have a chance to win the ball game."
Turnovers Lead to First Half Scores
The Bearcats converted a pair fumbles into field goals in the first half. On Chet Ervin's first punt of the game, a hit on return man Adam Jones by Jason Russell jarred the ball loose and Jamey Murphy recovered on the WVU 25. UC settled for a 44-yard field goal by Ervin.
Doug Monaghan scooped up a fumble on the WVU 43 early in the second quarter. UC marched to the Mountaineer 26 before calling on Ervin for a 43-yard FG.
The Bearcats could have seized command of the game if they had been able to take advantage of two other take-aways. A James Brooks fumble recovery on West Virginia's second possession of the game gave UC the ball on the WVU 39. A botched snap foiled an Erwin field goal try.
Daven Holley picked off a pass on the UC 24 early in the second quarter but two plays later Guidugli fumbled the ball back to WVU. The defense stiffened and Mountaineers missed a 44-yard field goal.
Trailing 6-0, the Mountaineers got on the scoreboard after Thaddeus Lewis fumble on a punt return, giving WVU the ball on the UC 34. Marshall lofted an 11-yard touch pass to Chris Henry for the score.
The Bearcats responded with a 9-play, 79-yard scoring drive following the ensuing kickoff. Hall rushed for 37 yards and turned a pass from Guidugli into a 26-yard gain. Guidugli capped the drive with a three-yard strike to Cedric Dawley. UC initially elected to try for the two-point PAT but a procedure penalty moved the ball back. Chris Manfredini's kick bounced off the upright.
The Bearcats enjoyed a 51-yard advantage in total offense yardage and had a five-minute lead in time of possession, but led by only 12-7 at the half.
Game Stats and Notes
Cincinnati gained 311 yards total offense, 193 of that on the ground. Richard Hall led the rushing forces with 85 yards on 18 carried. Eddington finished with 53 yards in 17 tries.
Hall was the top receiver with four catches for 48 yards. Guidugli completed 17-of-35 passes for 146 yards. His three-yard scoring strike to Dawley was his 40th career TD pass, giving him sole possession of the Cincinnati school record.
Guidugli moved into second place, ahead of Deontey Kenner (6,278 yards, 1997-00) in career passing yards. Guidugli, with 6,383 yards, trails only Danny McCoin (6,801, 1984-87).
Thaddeus Lewis returned four punts for 42 yards, which included a 22-yard return. He had a 32-yard return called back due to penalty.