TicketsCincinnati Pounded At Louisville
Bearcats have four-game winning streak snapped
Contact: Tom Hathaway
11/27/2004
Butler Benton scored his fourth touchdown of the season for the Bearcats' only score |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ? The University of Cincinnati put together a four-game win streak with a series of total team victories?all factions contributing to the victories. Saturday?s 70-7 loss to No. 7 Louisville might be considered a total team defeat.
The Bearcat offense, which had averaged 460.3 yards and 41.8 points during the win streak, managed just 263 yards. Without Gino Guidugli, who suffered a fractured passing hand last week, UC got just 33 yards from its passing game on an 8-of-27 combined performance of quarterbacks Collin Carey and George Murray.
The defense, which had been touched for just a little over 300 yards and 18 points per game during the streak, was ripped for 491 yards, 366 coming on the ground.
Cincinnati, which had just one turnover over the previous four games, was hexed with two fumbles and two interceptions.
And the kicking game surrendered three touchdowns, two on blocked punts returned for TDs and a third on a 72-yard punt return.
The loss in the regular season finale dropped the Bearcats to 6-5 overall and 5-3 in C-USA play. UC finishes in a four-way tie for second place in the conference standings. Louisville wrapped up the C-USA title and accepted an invitation to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Cincinnati, as one of the four remaining bowl-eligible teams in C-USA vying for berths in the league?s four bowls (Windham New Orleans, Dec. 14; GMAC in Mobile, Dec. 22; PlainsCapital Fort Worth, Dec. 23; Sheraton Hawaii, Dec. 24), is awaiting a similar invite.
Gino?s Absence Hurt
When Louisville?s Eric Shelton took off on an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game, those watching the contest might have gotten the impression that this would not be the Bearcats? day.
The absence of Guidugli probably had already dealt the team?s confidence a major setback. Guidugli played a major role in the win streak, completing 71 percent of his passes for 1,022 yards and 12 TDs. The senior, who had started 46 consecutive games, tried to throw the ball during pregame with his hand heavily taped. Ultimately, he could not play.
Carey started the game and completed 4-of-13 passes for 18 yards. Murray, who had not been used at quarterback all season, took over for the last series of the first half and was 4-of-14 for 15 yards.
Louisville elected to pack its defense close to the line of scrimmage and shut off the UC run game while pressuring the inexperienced QBs. The Bearcats didn?t cross midfield until late in the first half. UC?s scoring drive occurred in the fourth quarter, after the Cardinals had mounted a 63-0 lead. Butler Benton carried from the 1-yard line to cap a 14-play, 81-yard drive which accounted for nearly half of UC?s 186 yards of total offense.
After UofL?s initial score, Cincinnati?s defense stiffened, forcing Louisville to punt once and stopping the Cardinals on downs on their 1-yard line. Stefan LeFors found Montrell Jones free for another big play, this one a 49-yard TD pass.
Jones scored two more touchdowns, one on a 13-yard reception and the other on a 72-yard punt return. The Cardinals also scored on a pair of blocked punts, Brandon Johnson blocking the first and returning it seven yards in the first quarter, and Tiger Jones falling on a ball blocked by Chad Rimpsey in the end zone during the third quarter.
UofL backup QB Brian Brohm connected with J.R. Russell for a 42-yard TD. Kolby Smith scored touchdowns on three short runs.
Shelton finished with 158 yards on 10 carries and Michael Bush also topped the century mark with 106 yards in 12 tries. Smith had 71 yards in five carries, which included a 56-yard run.
Richard Hall led UC?s offense with 62 yards in 17 carries. Benton had 36 yards in seven rushes.