TicketsBearcat Ground Game Leads Way to Homecoming Win
Contact: Tom Hathaway
10/30/2004
Daven Holly's fourth-quarter interception sealed UC's second-straight win. |
CINCINNATI, Ohio ? Cincinnati used Homecoming to propel it to its first two-game winning streak of the season, shutting down TCU in a 21-10 win at Nippert Stadium on Saturday. The win gave UC sole possession of fourth place in Conference USA with a 3-2 league mark as the Bearcats climbed to 4-4 overall.
Richard Hall rushed 29 times for 143 yards and a touchdown to lead Cincinnati to 255 rushing yards against a Horned Frog defense that came in ranked 16th in the nation in rushing defense (102 yards per game). UC racked up 410 yards of total offense and held TCU to 367, below its season average of 443.
"Our guys came to play," said head coach Mark Dantonio. "We talked all the time about playing with emotion. We said after the Army game that we were going to have destiny in our hands because we had to play the teams at the top of the division down the stretch. In Memphis and now TCU we've beaten two good football teams."
The Bearcats scored touchdowns on three of their first five possessions. The opening drive used up 6:47 and went 80 yards in 14 plays. Hall gained 36 yards on the drive and Brad Glatthaar capped it with a one-yard plunge.
The second score took only three plays after a TCU missed field goal as Hall broke loose for a 64-yard run that put him over the 100-yard mark 13 seconds into the second quarter. On the next drive the Bearcats used up another 5:20 in an 11-play, 75-yard march that ended with Gino Guidugli making an easy one-yard throw to Brent Celek for the 21-0 lead.
TCU (4-4, 2-3) finally got on the board with four-play, 68-yard drive that ended with Brandon Hassell hitting Quentily Harmon for a 17-yard score.
At halftime the Bearcats held a 20:43 to 9:17 advantage in time of possession and had 21 first downs to seven for TCU. The visitors had 61 yards rushing, 48 coming on one play, while UC had 165 rushing yards.
In the second half, neither offense got anything going. UC only crossed midfield once in the second half -- and that drive ended with a missed field goal. The Horned Frogs put together their two best drives of the game back-to-back in the third quarter. The first one was 11 plays lasting 4:20 and ended with a 20-yard field goal by Peter LoCoco after UC held facing first and goal at the two yard line.
On the next possession, TCU used 15 plays to go 58 yards in 5:16, but LoCoco missed from 43 yards. The next drive, and the last shot by the Horned Frogs, ended with Daven Holly picking of a Hassell pass. It was the only turnover of the game.
Guidugli finished 13-of-23 in the air for 155 yards and one score with no interception. He also added 47 yards rushing. Glatthaar finished with 40 yards on the ground. Hannibal Thomas caught four passes for 47 yards, while Earnest Jackson caught three for 45 yards.
Tyjuan Hagler led the defense with 11 tackles and two of UC?s seven quarterback hurries. Andre Frazier added eight stop and a sack while Trent Cole had seven tackles and a sack.
Hassell completed 15 of 33 passes for TCU for 221 yards and Marcus Draper gained 75 yards on the ground in seven carries. Lonta Hobbs was held to 49 yards on 14 carries. Cory Rodgers caught a team-high four passes for 40 yards.
The Bearcats will try to continue their climb up the league standings when they travel to face C-USA leaders Southern Miss on Saturday, Nov. 6. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT.
POSTGAME NOTES
Cincinnati Notes:
? Cincinnati scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the third-straight game.
? Richard Hall ran 29 times for 143 yards, the sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career and second of the season.
? Daven Holly made his ninth career interception, moving him into a six-way tie for fourth in UC history.
? Trent Cole recorded one sack and one tackle for loss to raise his career totals to 16.5 sacks and 43 TFLs, fifth and fourth all-time at UC.
? Andre Frazier recorded one sack and two tackles for loss to raise his career totals to 19.5 sacks and 38.5 TFLs, second and fifth all-time at UC.
TCU Notes:
? Marcus Draper's 48-yard run was the longest of his career, surpassing his previous long of six yards.
? TCU allowed 255 yards rushing by UC, a season-high. UAB has the previous high with 136.
? TCU lost for just the second time in October in the last three seasons. The Frogs are 10-2 in October since 2002.
? The 10 points was the first game with 10 points or less since a 28-9 loss to Texas A&M on Dec. 28, 2001 in the galleryfurniture.com Bowl.
? The 21-10 loss was the first for TCU when allowing as few as 21 points since a 21-7 loss at Nebraska on Aug. 25, 2001.
TCU captains: Brandon Hassell, Martin Patterson, Reggie Harrell, Jared Kesler.
Cincinnati captains: Gino Guidugli, Daven Holly, Kyle Takavitz, Andre Frazier
TCU won the coin toss and deferred. Cincinnati elected to receive and defended the North end zone.
POSTGAME QUOTES
Cincinnati Head Coach Mark Dantonio: "It was a great job. Our guys came to play. We talked all the time about playing with emotion. We said after the Army game that we were going to have destiny in our hands because we had to play the teams at the top of the division down the stretch. In Memphis and now TCU we've beaten two good football teams. We went out today and got only one turnover but didn't give up any--the second straight game we have had no turnovers.
"We came into the game saying we had to do three things. We had to be two dimensional--and we found a way to run the football and to throw it. We needed to win the turnover battle. We needed to be solid on special teams and we needed to stop the run on defense and make them one dimensional. It was a great emotional victory for us. Our guys' confidence is building. It was a great team victory.
"Southern Miss will be a tough environment in which to play. We'll enjoy this one tonight and then start on them tomorrow. "Our running backs are running with toughness. I think the same thing is true for our quarterback position, I think Gino (Guidugli) has had tremendous games the last two games. The decision making by him has been tremendous.
"You've got to give them some credit (for UC not scoring in the second half). We said throughout the game--play to win--don't go into a shell and not throw it. Other than the last series, we were running our offense. We got it down there a couple of times and just missed it.
"They (TCU) are a good football team. They were 16th in the nation against the run coming in and we rushed for 255. We got 155 yards passing. We got over 400 yards of offense. We had no turnovers. When you do that, you've got a chance to win. Our defense played well. I thought our secondary played well for the second week in a row."
Senior Cornerback Daven Holly:
On team's turnaround since loss against Army: ?It's amazing how we did an about face. We knew we had to get this team together. We knew we had to get this team rolling. With the amount of seniors on this team, we're just going to keep getting better and better.?
"The biggest thing in this conference is, you have to win your games at home. Road games are tough, I don't care who it is. You have to take care of business at home."
Senior Linebacker Jamar Enzor: ?As hard as it is to say it, that Army loss helped us. It helped us take a different view of what was taking place. The 2002 season was a big motivating factor. We went 2-5 and then we turned around and we were conference champs."
Senior Offensive Lineman Kyle Takavitz: "We've got a lot of seniors on this team. We've been there before. We looked at ourselves and we knew what we could do as a team. You saw how good the defense has played the last two weeks. They've been lights out."
Senior Quarterback Gino Guidugli:
On team's turnaround since loss against Army: "I think it all came down to just having fun. We were pressing early in the season. These last two games we've just been out there having fun and getting back to the basics."
TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson: "Defensive mistakes and missed plays were big. I give credit (to Cincinnati), they did what they had to do. It was an emotional part of the game on either side. Things happen."
On the difference in UC past few weeks: "It has to do with the little things. They had two games at home. They haven't turned the ball over."
On Gino: "He's done a good job of holding on to the ball and making plays. I have repect for Gino as a player."
On TCU offense: "We've been inconsistant inside the 20 yard line. We've gotta put it together on the road."
"How Cincinnati played in the redzone was the difference in the game. Two out of the three weeks we haven't been able to do that."