TicketsSept. 2, 2006
The Bearcats' two-quarterback offense produced four touchdowns while the defense recorded the school's first shutout in 11 seasons as Cincinnati blanked Eastern Kentucky, 31-0, in the season opener for both teams.
The shutout was UC's first since a 16-0 whitewashing of Virginia Tech on Sept. 16, 1995, a span of 123 games. It was aided in part by drive-snuffing interceptions by Haruki Nakamura, Dominic Ross and DeAngelo Smith and aggressive play that produced eight tackles for loss. EKU managed just 212 yards, the fewest by a Bearcat foe in 12 games.
The offense got a 161-yard passing effort from starter Dustin Grutza, who completed 9-of-15 passes, including one for a 15-yard TD. Nick Davila, playing the second and fourth quarters, was 10-of-19 for 121 yards and a six-yard touchdown.
With a rushing attack that generated 129 yards, the Bearcats amassed 411 yards of total offense. The most important statistic to head coach Mark Dantonio was UC's zero turnovers.
"Having zero turnovers was a big accomplishment for an opening game," stated the UC head coach, who is beginning his third season as Bearcats' boss. "Our two quarterbacks were productive. Both moved the football. We will evaluate the situation on Monday as to what we will do in the future, but both showed that they can get the job done."
Each quarterback engineered a touchdown drive in the first half. Grutza, who opened as the starter, marched the Bearcats 66 yards in nine plays on UC's second possession of the season. The sophomore completed all four pass attempts for 54 yards. His 23-yard strike to Brent Celek set up a two-yard TD sweep by Butler Benton.
Davila, who took over in the second quarter, got the Bearcats on the board with a 15-yard pass play to Dominick Goodman just before the half ended. An 18-yard toss to a heavily-covered Earnest Jackson set up the scoring play. Davila was 6-of-9 for 64 yards on the 11-play, 64-yard drive.
Between the two scores, the Bearcat defense took center stage. It took the Colonels 17 and a half minutes to record their first first down and they managed just 60 yards on 29 plays. Tony Carvitti, making his first start at defensive tackle, had a pair of sacks as the aggressive UC defenders racked up eight tackles for loss.
EKU crossed midfield just once and reached the UC 36, but the Bearcats held and the Colonels' 53-yard field goal attempt was well short.
Grutza added a touchdown with a six-yard toss to Goodman late in the third quarter, completing a 10-play, 64-yard drive. The sophomore connected with Derrick Stewart for a 51-yard aerial in the third quarter was at the controls when Bradley Glatthaar scored from six yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter, which culminated a five-play, 72-yard drive.
Davila generated a clock-killing 12-play, 71-yard drive in the fourth quarter that set up Kevin Lovell's 34-yard field goal.
The Colonels had a drive to the UC 36 ended by Nakamura's interception in the third period. Ross's interception ended an EKU drive that reached the UC 15 and Smith's pick stopped a scoring threat that had advanced to the 20.
"The shutout was certainly something special," Dantonio noted. "Coach Narduzzi and his staff did a very good job of getting the defense ready. We came up with three key interceptions. We had no turnovers on offense. Any time you are plus three (in turnovers), you are not going to lose the game.
The Bearcats are now on a short week to prepare for their BIG EAST Conference opener. UC will host Pittsburgh on Friday at 8 p.m. in a game nationally televised by ESPN2.