TicketsMiscues Cost UC a Grid Loss at UAB
Bearcats drop to 3-3, have bye week.
Contact: Tom Hathaway
10/11/2003
George Murray scores on a three-yard sweep vs. UAB. Carl Jones (2) leads the blocking. |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ? ?We have met the enemy and they are us? an old Pogo comic strip once portrayed might be the best description of Cincinnati?s 31-14 loss at UAB on Saturday.
In somewhat a carbon copy of the previous week?s 22-20 setback to Southern Miss, the Bearcat defense was tagged with untimely long passing plays, the offense failed to score upon getting the ball inside the five-yard line, and the special teams surrendered a momentum-turning big play.
The result was a third straight loss, which dropped UC to 3-3 on the year and 1-2 in Conference USA play. The Bearcats will have a bye week to regroup for their Oct. 25 Homecoming encounter with Army.
Gino Guidugli, whose playing status was questionable right up until game time due to a knee sprain suffered in the previous week?s loss to Southern Miss, started the game and played most of the snaps at quarterback. Guidugli was 21-of-43 for 219 yards.
The Bearcat offense, minus leading rusher Richard Hall, managed just 100 yards on the ground. UC entered the game ranked 14th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 205.4 yards per game.
UAB generated 382 yards in total offense. Quarterback Darrell Hackney completed 12 of 21 passes for 277 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defense Sets Early Tempo
Thaddeus Lewis, making his first start of the season in the secondary, set up the Bearcats? first score. His interception of Hackney?s first pass of the day gave UC the ball on the UAB 27. Cincinnati advanced only four yards before settling for a 42-yard field goal by Ervin.
UAB retaliated with an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive, Corey White crashing over from the one. It was the Blazers? first first-quarter touchdown of the season.
Tedric Harwell?s 38-yard kickoff return set the stage for another Ervin field goal, this one from 36-yards out, and the first quarter ended with UAB leading, 7-6.
The Blazers stung the Bearcats with a 95-yard Hackney-to-Roddy White touchdown pass near the halfway point of the second period.
Guidugli showed his ability to strike from long distance. The junior hooked up with Bill Poland for a 50-yard strike, one in which Poland clawed between two Blazer defenders to make the catch. Murray capped the six-play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard TD sweep. Murray then ran it in for a successful two-point PAT that tied the game at 14.
UAB Turns Momentum
The Blazers? special teams came up with the big play that turned the game?s momentum around. Julius Wainright blocked Ervin?s punt and UAB recovered on the UC one. White tallied his second TD to give UAB a 21-14 lead with 3:09 to play.
UAB then held UC in check to get one more scoring shot before intermission. Hackney hooked up with Roddy for 56 yards down the right sideline and the Blazers took a 28-14 lead to the locker room.
The Bearcat offense drove to the UAB three-yard line on its first possession of the second half. A penalty and a sack put UC back on the 33. A fourth-down pass to Cedric Dawley, who was open briefly in the end zone, was batted away at the last instant.
Early in the fourth quarter, Guidugli hooked up with Eddington for a 20- yard pass play. Eddington fumbled the ball away near midfield, snuffing out another scoring opportunity. The Blazers capitalized on the miscue with a 28-yard field goal by Nick Hayes.
Notes:
? Gino Guidugli topped the career record for pass completions. He finished the game with 551 completions, bettering the mark of 544 set by Danny McCoin in 1984-87. Guidugli now owns all of the UC passing and total offense records.
? Andre Frazier had 1.5 more sacks to up his career total to 15. He moved up to a tie for fifth place on the UC career list.
? Thaddeus Lewis made his first start of the season. He replaced Franklin Callicott at safety.
? Darren Hackney?s 95-yard touchdown pass to set a new UAB record for longest passing play.