TicketsNov. 18, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Bearcats finally got that Top 10 victory.
A pair of first-time starters--one on offense and one on defense--keyed a total team effort as the University of Cincinnati upended No. 7 Rutgers, 30-11, handing the Scarlet Knights their first defeat of the season.
Nick Davila, making his first-ever start at quarterback, completed 11 of 15 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown and scored another TD on a one-yard run. The senior sparked the UC offense to 402 yards and 30 points against a Rutgers defense that was ranked fourth nationally in both fewest yards (231.7) and points allowed (10.9).
DeAngelo Smith, making his first-ever start at cornerback, picked off a pass and returned it 84 yards for a touchdown which gave UC a 17-0 lead a little over five minutes into the second quarter. He helped a defensive effort that held Rutgers, the nation's No. 15 rushing team (187.8 yards) to 60 yards. The Bearcats bottled Ray Rice, ranked No. 3 individually in rushing (148.2), to a season-low 54 yards.
It was the highest-ranked opponent ever beaten by the Bearcats, who this season had faced--and lost to No. 1 Ohio State, No. 10 Virginia Tech, No. 7 Louisville and No. 10 West Virginia--all on the road.
"It was a tremendous atmosphere," stated UC head coach Mark Dantonio. "Our students came out. Bearcat people came out. It was a great environment here tonight.
"We play well here (at home)," Dantonio added. "Now we've got to go on the road next week and get ourselves a win."
Cincinnati, 6-5 overall and 3-3 in BIG EAST play, became bowl eligible with the victory. Pittsburgh is also 6-5 and USF is 7-4, though two of USF's victories are over I-AA foes, so a victory over Connecticut next week would greatly enhance UC's postseason chances.
Davila Recovers from Slow Start
The Bearcats defense set the tempo early. UC turned in a three-and-out on Rutgers' first possession. Davila fumbled his first snap, giving the Scarlet Knights the ball on the UC 31. The Bearcats held and the Knights missed a field goal.
Davila got over any jitters on the next series, marching UC 65 yards in 11 plays leading to Kevin Lovell's 32-yard field goal. Davila followed that with a 10-play, 80-yard drive, finding Derrick Stewart for a 38-yard completion, and the quarterback scored from the 1.
Rutgers began to show some offensive life and reached the UC 21. Mike Teel, under heavy pressure from Adam Hoppel, fired a pass to the right sideline that was picked off by Smith and returned 84 yards to give UC a surprising 17-0 lead.
The Scarlet Knights got on the scoreboard following a fumbled punt by UC. Though the misplay gave Rutgers the ball on the UC 25, the Bearcats defense held again though Rutgers managed a 34-yard field goal by Jeremy Ito.
The UC offense turned the ball over deep in its own territory shortly before the end of the half but Mike Mickens responded by intercepting a pass in the end zone. It was the first of two interceptions for Mickens.
Bearcats Add 10 Points in the Third Quarter
Cincinnati marched to the Rutgers 3 early in the third period before settling for a 19-yard field goal by Lovell. A 63-yard pass play, Davila to Butler Benton, was the big play in that drive.
The offensive play of the game was an 83-yard TD reception by Brent Celek. Davila connected with the senior tight end for about 25 yards to the UC 42. Celek broke one tackle and rambled the remaining 58 yards for a TD, giving UC a seemingly insurmountable 27-3 lead. Lovell tacked on a 27-yard field goal with 9:15 to play in the fourth quarter.
Rutgers put together a 63-yard drive later in the period capped by Rice's one-yard plunge.
"We believed. I just can't say enough about our football team," lauded Dantonio. "Tonight was our night. This is the fifth Top 10 team we've played. We played well against every one of them except West Virginia. I think our guys were prepared. The coaches did an outstanding job preparing our players. We had big plays out there tonight, offense, defense and special teams."