BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Today, the Cincinnati Bearcats close their 1998 football season with a scenario deemed impossible in October:
- They have beaten someone.
- They are favored to beat someone.
UC (1-9) comes off its first victory of the year, a 44-43 upset of Houston. Oddsmakers were so impressed that the Bearcats are a four-point favorite to beat Arkansas State (4-7) today at Jonesboro, Ark.
"The whole thing just reinforces that you should never give up, not in football or in life," said UC senior defensive tackle Kevin Ward. "One win doesn't erase the losses, but it has made our hard work worthwhile."
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UC at ARKANSAS ST.
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Records: UC 1-9, Arkansas State 4-7.
Kickoff: 2 p.m., Indian Stadium (33,410), Jonesboro, Ark.
TV: None.
Radio: WLW-AM (700)
Favorite: UC by 4.
Series: Arkansas State leads 1-0.
What to watch: UC freshman tailback DeMarco McCleskey needs 303 rushing yards to reach 1,000. That probably won't happen, but he could get close; in the past three weeks he has rushed for 179 yards a game. Quarterback Deontey Kenner needs 105 yards to become only the sixth player in UC history to throw for 2,000 yards in a season.
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Last month, UC was on course to become the first 0-11 team in school history. The Bearcats were on pace to allow the most yardage in NCAA Division I-A history, and through six games were allowing 50 points a game.
UC is no longer a threat to allow the most yards or points ever, but is still the worst scoring defense in America (44.9 a game). But the defense has played better the past two weeks, allowing "only" 33.5 points a game.
Combine that with an offense that has finally found its legs, namely freshman tailback DeMarco McCleskey. McCleskey has averaged nearly 180 yards rushing in his past three games, and led UC's win over Houston by scoring four touchdowns.
"If we had played this way all season, there's no doubt we'd be looking at a bright future," McCleskey said.
For McCleskey and the bulk of UC's team, there will be another day. But for 18 UC seniors, today is it.
"At least we've given the young guys a feeling of victory," said quarterback - receiver Chad Plummer. "It'll help them in the long run."
Plummer, who leaves as one of the best and best-known players in UC history, led UC to a 20-14 record as a quarterback from 1995-97. This year, he has played primarily receiver while allowing sophomore Deontey Kenner to ease in at quarterback, and Plummer has responded by leading UC with 58 receptions.
After closing 1997 with a victory in the Humanitarian Bowl at Boise, Idaho, the Bearcats close 1998 today in another first-time stop - Jonesboro, Ark.
The Bearcats have played Arkansas State just once, losing to the Indians 14-9 at UC in 1975.
Arkansas State, a Division I-A independent, has changed classification several times. It was "College Division" for years, played Division I from 1975-81, dropped to Division I-AA from 1982-91, and rejoined Division I-A in 1992.
The program joins the Big West in 1999, and also will play the Bearcats at UC next year.
Arkansas State is coached by former Ohio State offensive coordinator Joe Hollis. Hollis, 51, coached at OSU from 1991-96.
This year, Arkansas State has lost by only three points at Minnesota and 13 at Mississippi. But the Indians also lost at home by 38 points (to Idaho) and 48 (Louisiana Tech). Last week, they broke a five-game losing streak by beating Northeast Louisiana 17-13.
"They've lost to some pretty good teams," UC coach Rick Minter said. "They have some players I'd like to have."
Arkansas State will throw it, ranking 30th nationally with 241 yards passing per game. The Indian rushing offense is weak, ranking just 109th in the country at 82.5 a game.
With Arkansas State allowing 30.4 points per game and UC nearly 45, a big score is likely. But Minter's teams are always fast finishers, going 4-0 in season finales since he arrived in 1994.
"We've ended the last several years on a plus note," Minter said. "Hopefully we can do that again, and take a little momentum into recruiting."
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