Every college football team has games like this on its schedule. They provide a break between important games. They offer a chance to pad the won-lost record. But they don't generate much fan interest, as evidenced by the crowd of 17,588 at Nippert Stadium. And they don't provide any built-in motivation for the players.
SET AS WALLPAPER Click on right width for your monitor, then right click to Set As Wallpaper
Gino Guidugli dives for a TD.
(Jeff Swinger photos) 600 |
800 |
1024
These are the kind of games that force a team with bowl aspirations to find a way to dig down and take care of business. That's what the University of Cincinnati Bearcats did Saturday, pulling away from Connecticut in the second half to post a 45-28 victory.
UC, which faces Conference USA rival East Carolina at Nippert next week, is 5-3. UConn, a second-year Division I-A program, is 2-6.
“The kids did what we asked them to do,” UC football coach Rick Minter said. “which was to go out and win a game.”
Minter and his staff spent the week focusing on the Bearcats' mental state after last week's disheartening loss to Louisville. The players conceded it was difficult recharging.
“But our coaches stayed with us,” cornerback Zach Norton said. “They told us to keep hope alive.”
In a season of close, hard-fought victories, Minter was looking for a game that would provide the Bearcats a chance to rest some of their regulars. This one qualified in the end, but it wasn't until midway through the third quarter that UC took control.
UC led 31-14 when quarterback Gino Guidugli dropped back from his own 1-yard line and threw a pass toward wide receiver Jon Olinger, only to have the pass intercepted by the Huskies' Roy Hopkins at the UC 48. On the next play, UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky connected with wide receiver Jason Ridley for a 48-yard touchdown to make it 31-21 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
The Bearcats were forced to punt after their next possession failed to net a yard. UConn then drove from its 36 to the UC 35. Then strong safety Doug Monaghan made the play that stymied the Huskies' upset bid, stepping up to intercept a pass by halfback Chris Bellamy at the 15. It was the second interception of the year for Monaghan, a true freshman from Colerain High School who also leads the Bearcats in tackles.
“At the beginning of the season, I didn't have much experience and I was a little nervous,” Monaghan said. “Now I'm feeling more comfortable being back there. I'm starting to get a feel for the college game.”
Moments later, with 1:27 to go in the third quarter, Norton picked off an Orlovsky pass at the UConn 15 and returned it for a TD to make it 38-21.
Zach Norton returns an interception for a TD. | ZOOM |
“I just read the quarterback and I was patient,” Norton said.The Bearcats' defense allowed 382 yards to a UConn team that averages 241. UC came up with five turnovers.
“Our defense is not a real knockout unit that's going to force you to go three-and-out every time,” Minter said. “We need to be an opportunistic defense. We've got to live for the takeaway. Finally, we got some today.”
Running back DeMarco McCleskey rushed for 101 yards for UC, and LaDaris Vann caught seven passes for 94 yards. Guidugli had 245 yards passing.
Basically, the UC players did what they had to do against a team they were supposed to beat. In the process, they kept hope alive.
“We knew we couldn't lose this game,” Monaghan said. “This was a must win for us.”
Team
1
2
3
4
SCORE
Connecticut
7
7
7
7
28
Cincinnati
7
17
14
7
45
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Cincinnati Touchdown - 7-yard run by Gino Guidugil. (Jonathan Ruffin kick). 5:51 remaining. Connecticut Touchdown - 15-yard pass from Dan Oriovsky to Chris Bellamy. (Marc Hickok kick). 1:51 remaining.
2nd Quarter
Cincinnati Touchdown - 2-yard run by Ray Jackson. (Jonathan Ruffin kick). 14:26 remaining. Connecticut Touchdown - 1-yard run by Taber Smith. (Marc Hickok kick). 11:43 remaining. Cincinnati Field Goal - 29-yarder by Jonathan Ruffin. 8:17 remaining. Cincinnati Touchdown - 37-yard pass from Dan Oriovsky to LaDaris Vann. (Marc Hickok kick). 0:02 remaining.
3rd Quarter
Cincinnati Touchdown - 1-yard run by DeMarco McCleskey. (Jonathan Ruffin kick). 12:00 remaining. Connecticut Touchdown - 48-yard pass from Dan Orlovsky to Jason Ridley. (Marc Hickok kick). 7:53 remaining. Cincinnati Touchdown - 15-yard interception retun by Zach Norton. (Jonathan Ruffin kick). 1:27 remaining.
4th Quarter
Cincinnati Touchdown - 13-yard run by Nathan Wise. (Jonathan Ruffin kick). 14:47 remaining. Connecticut Touchdown - 7-yard pass from Dan Orlovsky to Chris Bellamy. (Marc Hickok kick). 0:00 remaining.
![[img]](/bearcats/img/photos/2001/11/110401guidugli600_zoom.jpg)
![[img]](http://enquirer.com/bearcats/img/photos/2001/11/110401vann_zoom.jpg)
![[img]](http://enquirer.com/bearcats/img/photos/2001/11/110401norton_zoom.jpg)
UC 45, Connecticut 28
