Despite scoring six touchdowns last week, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (3-3) can always use a boost in their bid to win Conference USA.

        And Tuesday they may have received it.

        Quarterback Deontey Kenner, who had missed the past 2 1/2 games with a torn stomach muscle, has pronounced himself sufficiently recovered to play Saturday at Louisville.

        If he proves healthy the rest of the week, don't be surprised to see him start Saturday, because UC coach Rick Minter has made clear all along that Kenner would not lose his starting job due to injury.

        Kenner might prove to be a little rusty, but the offense isn't. Backup QB Adam Hoover (15-of-25 for 268 yards) directed a well-oiled unit against Houston.

        That's because UC's brain trust took the lid off its play-calling last week in the 48-31 victory over Houston, and doubtless will try to do the same Saturday to give the players a chance to express themselves again.

        “Players basically try to execute what you give 'em,” Minter said. “What we decided to do was open it up a little bit. I think we helped our kids more against Houston (than in past weeks).”

        After five weeks of mostly being bottled up, the offense finally posted the numbers it had been seeking all year:

        • 18 yards per pass completion.

        • Of UC's 77 plays, 13 were “big plays” as defined by Minter - 12 yards or more on a run, 18 yards or more on pass.

        • 530 yards of total offense.

        • 262 yards of rushing.

        “We had a good mixture of runs and passes,” Minter said. “We've been saying all year, "We need to throw more run-action

        (passes),' but we hadn't done it (until Houston).”

        Look at the results: run-action pass to Tye Keith, 56 yards, next play, TD; run-action pass to Antonio Chatman, 33 yards, TD; run-action pass to DeMarco McCleskey, 27 yards, TD.

        Minter had been saying the past several weeks that the Bearcats' per-game average of 350 yards in total offense wasn't bad, but that they needed another 80-90 yards, all of it in big plays.

        And that's exactly what they got against Houston.

        Minter's not expecting a high-scoring game Saturday, but the chances are that the Bearcats will have to score TDs rather than field goals to beat 4-1 Louisville. The Cardinals' only loss is to Florida State; they have good victories at home vs. Kentucky and on the road vs. conference foe Alabama-Birmingham.

        “This (game vs. Louisville) is huge,” Minter said.

        UC, which is 2-1 in the conference, can't afford to lose any of its remaining four conference games if it intends to finish in the top spot in C-USA. After Saturday, the final three conference foes are UAB and Southern Miss at home, and Memphis on the road.

        None are pushovers: UAB beat LSU, Memphis just upset conference power East Carolina, and perennial conference kingpin Southern Miss is as good as ever.

        After this weekend, three of UC's final four games are at home, where they are 3-0.

        The top four C-USA teams, provided they have overall winning records, will all go to bowl games.

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