By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

UC back DeMarco McCleskey breaks the first of three tackles on a 15 yard gain. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

What remains is a mountain, not a molehill: Cincinnati (3-5) must win four of its next five games to make it to a bowl.

But what UC's defense showed the rest of the team Saturday in a 48-10 victory over Memphis at Nippert Stadium is that there is a route up that mountain.

The route is called: Follow us.

UC's defense forced six turnovers - three fumbles and three interceptions - to pave the way for the snapping of the Cats' three-game losing streak.

"It's a lot easier to go 30 yards than 70 or 80," said UC quarterback Gino Guidugli (21-for-34, 225 yards, 1 INT). "We keep playing like that and we're going to be hard to beat."

Also having good offensive days: running back DeMarco McCleskey (25 carries for a net 101 yards and 3 TD) and wide receiver LaDaris Vann (9 catches for 106 yards).

But this was the defense's day.

On Memphis' second play from scrimmage at its own 15-yard line, UC's defense forced a fumble and gave the offense the ball at Memphis' 23.

"It was in the game plan all week: force those turnovers," said UC defensive end Antwan Peek, who narrowly missed scooping up the fumble and running it in for a TD.

McCleskey just manages to get the ball over the goal line for his third touchdown of the day. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

Peek later blasted his way into Memphis' backfield and blew up a running play, snatching the ball for a fumble recovery.

A key play on UC's first score was an 8-yard pass play to Vann, on which he broke two tackles to get the ball to the 3. He rated it the best of his nine catches.

Memphis cut it to 7-3 with a 39-yard field goal, and after UC's offense stalled, its defense forced another fumble, giving UC the ball at Memphis' 5. Two carries by McCleskey made the score 14-3.

"We finally got set up on a short field," said UC coach Rick Minter. "This is a team that was desperately in need of something good to happen to it. It's a shot of enthusiasm to get off the skids and keep our goals alive."

McCleskey gets pulled down short of a first down against Memphis Saturday afternoon. (Thomas E. Witte photo) | ZOOM |

Two years ago, UC was sitting at 3-4 and won its last four games to make it to the Motor City Bowl. How many takeaways do you think UC's defense forced in those four games?

"Twenty," Minter said. "Maybe this is the start of that kind of run that we're going to have to have. Our defense has to set that tone."

UC made a rush-heavy 71-yard drive to make it 21-3, and then, after UC blew up a fake punt by Memphis to give the offense the ball at Memphis' 19, the Bearcats slashed it over six plays later on a counter-play to Richard Hall (Wyoming High) for the 8-yard TD run to make it 28-3.

"We fake the rollout right and I come back and get the handoff going back the other way," explained Hall, who had 11 carries for a net 51 yards (4.6 yard average). "I just have to find the goal line."

Memphis	3	0	7	0-10
Cincinnati	14	14	3	17-48

First Quarter

Cin-McCleskey 3 run (Ruffin kick), 12:18.
Mem-FG Gostowski 39, 2:08.
Cin-McCleskey 1 run (Ruffin kick), :00.
Second Quarter

Cin-McCleskey 4 run (Ruffin kick), 3:49.
Cin-Hall 8 run (Ruffin kick), :34.
Third Quarter

Cin-FG Ruffin 31, 8:48.
Mem-Williams 4 run (Gostowski kick), :45.
Fourth Quarter

Cin-FG Ruffin 34, 11:49.
Cin-Adams 80 interception return (Ruffin kick), 10:12.
Cin-Hall 10 run (Ruffin kick), 4:21.
A-20,747.

	Mem	Cin
First downs	14	27
Rushes-yards	27-74	53-231
Passing	173	225
Comp-Att-Int	16-31-3	21-34-1
Return Yards	3	80
Punts-Avg.	5-39.2	3-35.5
Fumbles-Lost	3-3	2-1
Penalties-Yards	2-6	6-50
Time of Possession	24:17	35:43

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Memphis, Avery 8-23, Brown 5-16, Williams 10-7, Wimprine 4-1. Cincinnati, McCleskey 25-101, Hall 11-51, Harwell 5-23, Murray 2-16, Vann 2-10, Guidugli 5-8, Leonard 2-5, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-Memphis, Wimprine 13-27-3-154, Avery 3-4-0-19. Cincinnati, Guidugli 21-34-1-225.

RECEIVING-Memphis, Anglin 3-41, Harden 3-38, Gideon 3-26, White 2-32, Garcia 2-29, Higgins 1-5, Price 1-4, Williams 1-(minus 2). UC, Vann 9-106, Murray 4-21, Keith 2-37, McCleskey 2-23, Olinger 2-16, Harwell 1-11, Ross 1-11.