UC kicker Jonathan Ruffin slumps to his knees after missing a last-second field goal that would have tied the game. (AP/David Kohl photo) | ZOOM |

        It would be too easy to blame Saturday's 35-32 loss to West Virginia on Jonathan Ruffin. Yes, Ruffin nit the upright on a makeable 49-yard field goal try as time expired at Nippert Stadium, giving his University of Cincinnati Bearcats (1-1, 1-0 in Conference USA) their first loss of the season.

        But neither Ruffin nor the UC offense will be blamed for this loss; it will fall on the weary shoulder pads of the defense.

        “(We) stunk up the joint,” head coach Rick Minter said.

        Six days away from an anticipated game against Ohio State at a sold out Paul Brown Stadium, Minter's defense was pushed around for most of four quarters, allowing 523 yards of total offense, including 334 yards rushing.

        “I was surprised it was that close,” defensive end Antwan Peek said afterward.

Dennis Hart dives over the goal line on a 33-yard TD pass. (AP/David Kohl photo) | ZOOM |

        Peek, who had a team-high 11 tackles while battling through double-teams, said not enough of his defensive teammates came ready to play.

        “I can't be the only one out there, working every down, and can't get everybody else to make plays,” he said. “We've got to get some more players to step up, other than me.”

        No one was successful with stopping Mountaineers (2-1) running back Avon Cobourne. He did most of the damage against the Bearcats, as he rushed 30 times for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

        Cobourne broke tackles, and outran UC defenders for extra yardage. He scored the Mountaineers' first two touchdowns in the first quarter, then watched as his teammates added their own big plays.

West Virginia's Miquelle Henderson catches the ball over safety Doug Monaghan. Henderson broke the tackle and scored. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        An example came with less than two minutes remaining in the first half. On a first-and-goal at the Bearcats 9, strong safety Doug Monaghan was pushed back five yards by WVU tackle Rod Olds. Running behind Olds was his quarterback, Rasheed Marshall, who scored with ease.

        “Players have to make plays,” Peek said. “We've got to get players to step up when I can't get it.”

        Gino Guidugli and his cast of speedy receivers have been able to overcome fourth quarter deficits. But Saturday's game proved the offense will not always be able to bail out the defense.

        The offense did try.

        Guidugli once against tried to rally his team late in the fourth quarter. Trailing 35-17 late in the third quarter, he led the offense on two consecutive scoring drives, one capped by a 2-yard run by running back DeMarco McCleskey early in the fourth and the second an 8-yard TD pass to receiver Tye Keith. Then, Guidugli ran on a two-point conversion.

West Virginiašs Avon Coburne rushed for 193 yards and two TDs. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

        The UC defense showed up on the next WVU drive, forcing a punt, but Guidugli missed receiver Jon Olinger on a fourth-and-2 pass.

        Another defensive hold came, but with 51 seconds left, and 90 yards to drive to the end zone, Guidugli was only able to move the offense to the Mountaineers 32-yard line.

        There, Ruffin lined up for his field goal. The attempt hit the left upright. Ruffin fell to his knees.

        And the Bearcats just fell.

        West Virginia breathes sigh of relief

        West Virginia 14 14 7 0 — 35
       Cincinnati 17 0 0 15 — 32
        First Quarter
        Cin—FG Ruffin 35, 12:27.
        WVa—Cobourne 5 run (James kick), 8:16.
        Cin—Hart 33 pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 4:29.
        WVa—Cobourne 5 run (James kick), 2:07.
        Cin—Guidugli 1 run (Ruffin kick), 0:44.
        Second Quarter
        WVa—Henderson 36 pass from Marshall (James kick), 13:53.
        WVa—Marshall 9 run (James kick), 1:11.
        Third Quarter
        WVa—Marshall 1 run (James kick), 2:16.
        Fourth Quarter
        Cin—McCleskey 1 run (Ruffin kick), 10:33.
        Cin—Keith 8 pass from Guidugli (Guidugli run), 5:39.
        A—28,806.
        RUSHING—West Virginia, Cobourne 30-193, Wilson 9-88, Marshall 12-44, Braxton 2-22, Daugherty 1-(minus 13). Cincinnati, McCleskey 24-118, Harwell 6-25, Hall 1-6, Vann 1-(minus 4), Guidugli 5-(minus 8).
        PASSING—West Virginia, Marshall 16-24-0-189. Cincinnati, Guidugli 20-30-0-275.
        RECEIVING—West Virginia, Henderson 8-105, Braxton 3-37, D. Smith 2-17, Cobourne 1-15, Bailey 1-8, Alston 1-7. Cincinnati, Murray 6-63, Vann 4-67, Hart 3-77, Keith 3-34, McCleskey 2-20, Lucius 1-9, Olinger 1-5.
       

West Virginia 35, UC 32 West Virginia breathes sigh of relief

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