TicketsNov. 26, 2005
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Cincinnati was held to a season-low 146 yards in total offense, including minus-23 yards rushing, in absorbing a 44-9 loss to Rutgers in the season finale.
The Scarlett Knights boosted their BIG EAST Conference-leading sack statistics by throwing UC QB Dustin Grutza for nine losses totaling 68 yards. Grutza did managed to complete 15 of 24 passes for 169 yards and the Bearcats' lone touchdown, an 8-yard toss bo Brent Celek in the fourth quarter. By that time, the game was well in the hands of Rutgers, which ground out 337 yards rushing for a healthy 6.7-yard average.
UC showed promise, taking the opening kickoff and driving to the Rutgers 39 before stalling. The Knights marched down the field for a 32-yard Jeremy Ito field goal. An 11-yard UC punt gave Rutgers a short field, from which the Knights took a 10-0 lead.
The Bearcats got on the scoreboard via a 45-yard field goal by Kevin Lovell early in the second quarter, but Rutgers retaliated with a TD drive capped by Ryan Hart's 24-yard pass to Clark Harris, and two late field goals by Ito, to take a 23-3 halftime lead. The lead was expanded in the third quarter by TD runs of 58 and 11 yards by Ray Rice.
Rice finished with 195 yards in 24 carries while Hart completed 16 of 26 passes for 237 yards.