TicketsNov. 22, 2010
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - University of Cincinnati sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Mills (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) and junior running back Isaiah Pead (Columbus, Ohio/Eastmoor Academy) were named BIG EAST Conference Defensive and Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, the league office announced Monday on the heels of UC's 69-38 win over Rutgers Saturday.
Mills led the Bearcats on defense Saturday, recording career highs in tackles (10), solo tackles (9), tackles for a loss (5.5), and sacks (3.0). He also forced a fumble on the evening.
Pead, who was also named the Rivals.com BIG EAST Player of the Week, had a career-high 31 carries, a career-best 213 yards, and five touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per rush. He had touchdown runs of 24, nine, 24, and 26 yards and also added a 34-yard touchdown reception, becoming the first UC player to score five TDs in a game since 1912.
Pead is the first player to rush for more than 200 yards in a game since Richard Hall tallied 238 rushing yards against Miami (OH) on Sept. 11, 2004. Pead also is the first UC player to rush more than 30 times in a game since Hall had 30 carries against Army on Oct. 25, 2003.
Pead has 909 rushing yards on the season, needing 91 yards over the final two games of the regular season to become UC's first 1,000-yard rusher since Hall in 2002.
UC is back in action Saturday, taking on Connecticut at Rentschler Field. Kickoff is set for noon as the BIG EAST Network Game of the Week.