TicketsOct. 30, 2006
Open Week Notes
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Boasting back-to-back wins for the second time this season, the Bearcats get an opportunity to recuperate from its vicious schedule with an open weekend ahead. They will take three days off before returning to Nippert Stadium for practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
At 5-4 overall, including a 2-2 BIG EAST record, the University of Cincinnati has post-season aspirations and are one win away from becoming bowl-eligible.
Cincinnati continued its ascent up the BIG EAST standings with a 17-3 Homecoming triumph over Syracuse. UC's defense set new season-lows by holding the Orange to 119 yards passing and 180 yards of total offense.
Ranked No. 17 nationally against the run, Cincinnati is yielding 89.3 yards per game on the ground. UC, which has held seven of its nine foes under the 100-yard mark in rushing, has allowed an average of 63.0 rushing yards per game over its last five frays.
Dominick Goodman is third in the BIG EAST and 12th in the nation, averaging 28.4 yards per kickoff return. The sophomore wide receiver leads a UC kick return squad that is No. 11 in the country at 25.6 yards per kick return.
A Quick Look at the Bearcats
Cincinnati added the long pass play to its usual ground game and aggressive defense in the 17-3 victory over Syracuse. The Bearcats' rushing attack totaled 147 yards on the ground, but Dustin Grutza connected with long-range threat Derrick Stewart for 91 yards on three passes in the win.
Junior running back Greg Moore continues to lead the UC ground game (522 yards) that is ranked 57th in the nation.
Quarterback Dustin Grutza is directing a UC offense that is listed No. 82 in total offense and averaging 341.8 yards of total offense over the last five games. Grutza is completing 61.6 percent of his passes this year.
Senior tight end Brent Celek leads the Bearcats in receptions (27), and receiving yards (344). Sophomore wide receivers Dominick Goodman (23 catches, 220 yards and 2 TDs) and Derrick Stewart (18 catches, 374 yards and 3 TDs) provide the outside threats for UC.
Cincinnati special teams have been key all season, with the kickoff return team listed 11th in the NCAA. UC is 59th in punt returns.
The Cincinnati defense is ranked No. 17 in stopping the run and free safety Haruki Nakamura leads the Bearcats' with 45 tackles. Mike Mickens and Kevin McCullough are tied for second on the squad with 43 stops each. Dominic Ross has tallied four interceptions to lead the team.
McCullough, Trevor Anderson and Terrill Byrd share the team lead in tackles for loss (7.5). Both defensive ends, Anderson and Craig lead UC in quarterback sacks with four. UC is 24 in the country in quarterback sacks and 25th in tackles for loss.
What a Difference a Year Makes
A season ago, Cincinnati ranked as one of the nation's youngest Division I-A football teams. The Bearcats had just eight returning starters and 30 of the 44 players on last year's depth chart had one season or less playing experience. The Bearcats boast more experience this season. Though still a young team in terms of playing experience, UC has starters returning at 17 positions. The defense, which a season ago started as many as six first-year freshmen, has 10 returning starters.
Captains
Seniors, tight end Brent Celek and strong safety Dominic Ross, lead Cincinnati onto the field as teams captains throughout the 2006 campaign. Both are in their third year as starters.
McCullough's Nose for the Football
One week after recording an interception at Louisville, the second of his career, senior linebacker Kevin McCullough picked up a USF fumble and sprinted 39 yards up the sideline for the second fumble return for touchdown of his career.
McCullough played a key role in giving UC a 9-0 lead against USF. The senior middle linebacker assisted on the tackle in the end zone that resulted in a safety and gave Cincinnati an early 2-0 edge. For his efforts, he was honored as the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Week.
Anderson Keeps Invading the Opposition's Backfield
Trevor Anderson registered five tackles, including a half-sack and a tackle for loss in the 23-6 win over USF. Anderson was credited with a tackle in the USF backfield that resulted in a safety and an early 2-0 lead for UC.
The safety was the only scoring of the first half against the Bulls. He forced the fumble that lead to Kevin McCullough's fumble return for touchdown and gave Cincinnati a 9-0 cushion that USF could not challenge.
A starter in every game this season, the sophomore defensive end shares the team lead with four sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss.
Ross Makes Pickoffs on the Doorstep
Senior strong safety Dominic Ross is making a habit of intercepting passes to stop threats. Ross has six career interceptions and has made three this season, with the opposition knocking on the door, inside the UC 10 yard line to stop would-be scoring drives.
In the season opener, he collected his first INT of the year in the end zone when Eastern Kentucky had the ball only 15 yards away from the end zone. In the win over Miami University, Ross stopped a scoring chance with his interception on the UC 14. Against USF, Ross struck with a pickoff at the UC 8 to snuff out the Bulls' best scoring chance of the third quarter.
The defensive captain for the UC, Ross is third in the BIG EAST with four interceptions.
Celek Eclipses TE Receptions Mark
Brent Celek added to his record-setting career by making two catches against USF to become the Cincinnati career record for receptions by a tight end.
The senior has 83 career grabs, one more than the previous mark of 81 established by Kris Bjorson in 1989-92. Celek owns the UC career marks for receiving yards (998) and TD receptions (13) by a UC TE.
Celek's Streak Continues
Brent Celek has extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 21. Celek, who leads UC in receiving yards (344) and receptions (27), has caught at least one pass in 29 of his last 30 contests.
UC Schedule Tough
Three of Cincinnati's four losses were to teams ranked in the Top 10 at the time they faced the Bearcats. UC suffered a 37-7 loss to Ohio State, ranked No. 1 in both polls, on Sept. 16; lost to Virginia Tech (No. 11 AP/No. 10 USA Today) 29-13, on Sept. 23; and dropped a 23-17 nail-biter to Louisville (No. 7 in both polls) on Oct. 14. All of those games were on the road.
The four teams to defeat Cincinnati have a combined record of 28-4 (Pittsburgh 6-2, Ohio State 9-0, Virginia Tech 6-2, Louisville 7-0). UC has played the 38th most difficult schedule in the country, according to the Sagarin Ratings of strength of schedules.
The Bearcats have two more ranked opponents on the horizon, No. 3 West Virginia on Nov. 11 and No. 15 Rutgers on Nov. 18.
Bearcats on the Run
After rushing for just 53.3 yards per game in its first three games of the season, UC has found the right mix. Cincinnati is rushing for 186.3 yards per game over its last six games.
The Bearcats have eclipsed the 100-yard mark in each of the past six games, including two games with more than 200 yards, after hitting a low point of minus-4 yards rushing at Ohio State.
Pounding out Yards
UC's formula for success includes a strong dose of ball control offense. UC ran the ball a season-high 53 times and totaled 194 yards on the ground in the 20-14 win over Akron. The running game generated a season-high 424 yards of total offense against the Zips.
The Bearcats followed with a new highwater mark of 212 rushing yards on 52 attempts at Louisville. They tallied 191 yards on 46 attempts against USF.
Big Runs by Benton
Butler Benton continues to produce big rushing plays for the Red and Black. The junior running back has posted three rushing plays of more than 20 yards, including a pair for touchdowns.
Benton burst through the line for a 27-yard sprint to pay dirt for the final UC points against USF. He notched a 37-yard TD run in the triumph over Miami University. His longest rush of the year came on a 40-yard scamper through the line at Virginia Tech.
Lovell Streaking on the PAT
Kevin Lovell has extended his school record to 73 straight PAT kick conversions. The California native broke the old mark of 65 straight good point-after tries set by Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Jonathan Ruffin (2000-02) in the win over Akron.