By John Erardi
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The University of Cincinnati defense will keep making plays until the talented but enigmatic offense capitalizes.

DeMarco McCleskey outruns UAB's James Malone on a touchdown run in the fourth quarter. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

That's what happened (again) Saturday in UC's 31-23 victory over Alabama-Birmingham before 9,606 fans at Nippert Stadium.

It will come down to this (again) Friday at East Carolina (7 p.m. kickoff, ESPN2), in a game the 6-6 Bearcats (5-2 in Conference USA), must win to go to a third straight bowl and share the C-USA title with 9-2 Texas Christian (6-2 C-USA).

"Everybody knows what the East Carolina game means," said UC quarterback Gino Guidugli (14-of-22 for 243 yards, two TDs and no interceptions).

TCU, which won Saturday, has locked up a spot in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Because of its late-season wrapup at ECU, UC is down in the pecking order for bowls. If by the time UC finishes Friday only the Hawaii Bowl is available of C-USA's affiliated bowls, C-USA will work to arrange a swap with another conference that has a team that might want to go to Hawaii, C-USA official Brian Teeter said. (UC lost 20-19 at Hawaii last week in a tension-filled game that ended with an on-field brawl.) The speculation is that the Music City Bowl in Nashville could be where UC lands.

Antwan Peek celebrates after causing and recovering a fumble. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

It has been a long way back from the edge of the crypt for the Bearcats, who five weeks ago were 2-5.

"After our loss to Southern Miss, which followed losses to Miami and Tulane, everybody was questioning all phases of our team," Guidugli said. "Then everything clicked against Memphis (48-10), and we've been on a roll ever since."

UC trailed 23-17 with 11:21 to play, because UAB - utilizing a triple option attack off a T-formation wishbone - had run through UC's defense like a crazed rat through a maze. Many of the calls were misdirection plays.

"(At halftime), the coaches told the linebackers and safeties, 'Hold your position: do not run where the offense appears to be going,'" said UC junior linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, who had a 15-yard TD interception to put UC up 14-10 with 2:20 left in the first half.

Even then, UAB took the second-half kickoff 69 yards on a 14-play drive (12 rushes) for a 17-14 lead.

Trent Cole celebrates a sack. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

UAB was still leading 17-14 and facing third-and-5 on UC's 25 when UC defensive end Antwan Peek busted in to tackle-and-strip QB Thomas Cox and recover the fumble. UC tied it at 17 on a 35-yard field goal by Jonathan Ruffin. The big play was a 31-yard pass to George Murray on 3rd-and-23 from UC's 8.

UC held UAB to a field goal (23-17) after Tye Keith fumbled the kickoff early in the fourth quarter at UC's 21.

The key play on UC's first fourth-quarter TD drive (five plays, 77 yards) to make it 24-23, was a 37-yard first-down completion to LaDaris Vann; a big play on the second TD drive (9 plays, 77 yards) to make it 31-23, was a 9-yard first-down completion to Jon Olinger.

UAB	7	3	7	6-23
Cincinnati	7	7	3	14-31

First Quarter
UAB-Cox 8 run (Hayes kick), 9:53.
CIN-McCleskey 7 pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 6:46.
Second Quarter
UAB-FG Hayes 44, 7:13.
CIN-Hagler 15 interception (Ruffin kick), 2:20.
Third Quarter
UAB-Gibson 1 run (Hayes kick), 8:30.
CIN-FG Ruffin 35, 3:18.
Fourth Quarter
UAB-FG Hayes 23, 14:16.
UAB-FG Hayes 27, 11:21.
CIN-McCleskey 15 pass from Guidugli (Ruffin kick), 8:50.
CIN-McCleskey 14 run (Ruffin kick), 3:30.
A-9,606.

	UAB	UC
First downs	19	17
Rushes-yards	63-239	34-82
Passing	49	243
Comp-Att-Int	6-17-1	14-22-0
Return Yards	8	33
Punts-Avg.	3-39.3	4-40.8
Fumbles-Lost	3-2	2-2
Penalties-Yards	8-85	5-40
Time of Possession	34:09	25:51

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-UAB, Burks 19-80, Gibson 13-79, Cox 19-61, Dudley 6-42, Hackney 6-(minus 23). Cincinnati, McCleskey 23-82, Hall 3-11, Guidugli 5-5, Team 3-(minus 16).

PASSING-UAB, Hackney 6-17-1-49. Cincinnati, Guidugli 14-22-0-243.

RECEIVING-UAB, Cox 1-11, Dudley 1-10, Quinnie 1-9, Gibson 1-8, White 1-7, Burks 1-4. Cincinnati, Vann 5-89, Murray 3-60, McCleskey 3-28, Olinger 2-23, Keith 1-43.