TicketsBearcats Fall Short in OT Loss to USF
UC loses defensive struggle.
Contact: Tom Hathaway
10/31/2003
Tyjuan Hagler (42) sacks USF's Pat Julmiste with help from Trent Cole (90). |
TAMPA, Fla. ? Cincinnati and USF waited until the end to show their offensive firepower, but the Bulls were a little more proficient in defeating the Bearcats, 24-17, in double overtime in a key Conference USA clash.
Twenty-one of the game?s 41 points were scored in overtime. The Bulls tallied the game-winner when DeJuan Green broke free for a 25-yard run around right end on the first play of USF?s second overtime possession.
USF clinched the victory by intercepting a pass that ricocheted off Richard Hall?s shoulder pads.
The loss dropped Cincinnati to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in Conference USA, all but eliminating UC from the C-USA race. USF climbed to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in C-USA.
After managing a combined 20 points and 512 yards of total offense?294 by UC?in the first four quarters of the game, the two teams turned what had been a defensive battle into an offensive volley, striking at will in overtime.
The Bearcats got on the scoreboard first in overtime when senior tight end Dennis Hart got behind the USF secondary to haul in a 25-yard. USF retaliated with a drive that was culminated with a four-yard TD run by quarterback Brian Fisher.
Defense Paces First Half
With the two teams ranked first and second in the C-USA total defense stats, the game loomed as a defensive battle and lived up to that billing in the first half.
Cincinnati came up with the lone score of the half when Gino Guidugli, on second-and-goal from the two, connected with Mike Daniels. Daniels had lined up as the first back in a three-man I and slid out to the right side uncovered while the USF defenders converged on the plunges of fullback Kyle Koester and Hall.
The score, which came with eight seconds to play in the first period, capped a 15-play, 76-yard drive that consumed 7:06. UC converted on four third-down situations during the drive, two on pass plays and two on pass interference penalties.
The Bearcats failed to capitalize on a scoring opportunity on their first possession of the second quarter. UC moved from its 43 to the USF 1. On fourth down, the Bearcats elected to go for the TD but George Murray, in at quarterback, was stopped for a two-yard loss.
Cincinnati?s defense enjoyed the upper hand in the half. The Bearcats held USF in check for only six yards and no first downs until the 5:35 mark of the second quarter. The Bulls inserted Fisher, who normally plays receiver and whose strength is running, at QB and he promptly sparked a 35-yard drive which UC turned back on its 35.
The halftime stats showed Cincinnati holding a decided advantage of 146-to-65 in total offense and a two-to-one lead in time of possession. But the Bearcats? lead was only seven points.
Third Quarter Heats Up
USF tied the game when Pat Julmiste, the third quarterback used by the Bulls, found Elgin Hicks behind a pair of Bearcat defenders for a 36-yard TD strike. The 10-play, 64-yard scoring drive was aided by a pair of pass interference calls.
UC came back with an 11-play, 59-yard drive of its own. Guidugli had hook-ups of 22 yards to Hall and 27 to Vann Booker. UC settled for a 38-yard field goal by Chet Ervin.
Daven Holly made what appeared at the time to be the defensive play of the game when he deflected a pass by USF punter Brandon Baker on fourth down. The play gave UC the ball on the USF 45 with 8:38 to play.
Hall?s fumble two plays later reversed the Bearcats? momentum, setting the stage for the Bulls? 30-yard field goal by Santiago Gramatica which tied the game, 10-10, with 3:33 to play.
Cincinnati mounted one last drive to win the game in regulation. UC drove to the USF 24. Ervin?s 41-yard field goal try was blocked.
Notes
? Offensive coordinator Rusty Burns was taken to a Tampa-area medical facility late Friday afternoon and was not present at the game. He remained in Tampa Friday night.
? Richard Hall was held to 46 yards, a season low for the junior who had entered the game averaging 111.0 yards per game and was ranked 15th nationally in rushing.
? Dennis Hart led all UC receivers with four catches, a personal best for the senior tight end.
? After holding its last three opponents to a total of 155 net rushing yards, the Bearcats surrendered a season-high 168 yards via the ground. UC entered the game with the nation?s eighth-ranked rushing defense.
? The Bearcats held USF to 100 yards passing, a season best for the UC defense.
? Jamar Enzor was credited with 15 tackles on the press box stats, a season high for the junior linebacker.
? Mike Wright made a career-high three tackles for loss.
? Tyjuan Hagler, Jason Russell and Jamie Murphy recorded sacks.
? The Bearcats were minus-3 in the take-away department, with two interceptions and a fumble. It was the first game this season in which the UC defense did not come up with an interception.
? The loss lowered UC?s all-time record in overtime games to 5-4. The Bearcats previously defeated Temple in a three-overtime contest this season.