TicketsSept. 30, 2006
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The 111th edition of the Battle for the Bell was determined by the defenses, and the University of Cincinnati's forces held the upper hand for a 24-10 victory over the Miami RedHawks.
The win snapped UC's three-game losing streak and gave the Bearcats a 2-3 ledger. It was the fifth straight setback for the winless RedHawks.
The Bearcats came up with three turnovers, cashing two of them in for touchdowns.
John Bowie came up with the pivotal take-away. With Miami driving for a potential game-tying touchdown early in the fourth quarter, Bowie intercepted Daniel Raudabaugh's pass and returned it 24 yards to the Miami 46.
Six plays later, Dustin Grutza lofted a pass to a wide-open Derrick Stewart in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard score that gave UC a 24-10 margin.
The Bearcats thwarted two more Miami drives. Bowie batted away a pass on fourth down deep in UC territory to stop the first threat. Dominic Ross's interception at the UC four with 1:17 to play sealed the win. "I thought we came out and played well early, but turnovers hurt us," stated UC head coach Mark Dantonio. "I thought our defense played very well. Other than the three points that came as a result of a turnover, we basically played shutout football."
The game featured a combined 522 yards of total offense, or 17 yards less than Miami amassed in last year's contest. UC held the RedHawks to 36 yards rushing. Raudabaugh, a redshirt freshman who was named the starter for injured Mike Kokal at game time, was 21-of-48 for 190 yards, 51 coming in the final quarter.
Cincinnati relied on the punishing ground attack that the coaching staff has emphasized the past two games. The Bearcats hammered out 253 yards, the most since a 293-yard effort in the 2005 season opener, but also achieved a healthy 6.0 yards-per-carry average.
"We ran the football very effectively," stated Dantonio. "We feel that we need to run the ball. That's necessary for us to win. We need to throw better than we did today."
Greg Moore led the attack with 119 yards in 20 carries, both career highs for the junior. Butler Benton chipped in68 yards in eight carries. The Bearcats managed to break off some big rushing plays. Moore had a 55-yard jaunt early in the game and Benton scored on a 37-yard run.
The Bearcats overcame blunders on their first three possessions. A 17-yard punt gave Miami the ball at midfield but the defense held the RedHawks to negative yardage to force a punt.
One play after his 55-yard run, Moore fumbled, and inspired Miami drove to the UC 6. The Bearcats stopped the RedHawks on a fake field goal try. A play later, Bradley Glatthaar fumbled on the UC 22. Again the defense held, limiting the RedHawks to a 49-yard field goal by Trevor Cook.
Dominick Goodman's 58-yard kickoff return brought life into the Bearcats, who scored one play later on Benton's 37-yard jaunt around right end. On Miami's next possession, Tony Carvitti came up with a fumble and returned it 15 yards to the MU 11. Moore took over from there with three straight carries, the final from two yards out giving UC a 14-3 lead.
Kevin Lovell capped a late first half drive with a 47-yard field goal for a 17-3 halftime advantage. Miami's lone touchdown came on Ryne Robinson's 80-yard punt return in the third quarter.
"I'm extremely happy about getting the Bell back," said Dantonio. "Everybody that's been associated with the University of Cincinnati--that bell belongs to everybody, and I'm glad to get it back.
"There is no doubt that we needed a win. This is a big game for us in terms of what it means to us. Things could have been better today, but we won and I would rather have it this way."