By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Army's Aaron Alexander makes the catch for a touchdown against UC's Zach Norton in the first quarter. (Jeff Swinger photo) | ZOOM |

The University of Cincinnati sure didn't look like a football team that has spent the past two weeks emphasizing fundamentals.

The Bearcats managed to scrape out a 33-29 Homecoming victory over Army on Saturday before 22,025 fans at Nippert Stadium despite a continuing array of blocked kicks, other assorted turnovers and costly penalties.

The victory ended a three-game losing streak for UC (4-3 overall, 2-2 Conference USA). Army (0-8, 0-6) has lost 10 straight dating to last year, the longest losing streak in the country.

"We found a way to win a Conference USA game that ended a losing streak," said UC coach Rick Minter. "That's what we came to do. But we're still at the drawing board learning how to be a good team."

UC, which did not play last week, got off to a fast start when sophomore Carl Jones returned Army's first punt 65 yards to the Army one, where he stumbled and fell trying to stretch the ball over the goal line. Running back Richard Hall scored from 1 yard out to give UC a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into game.

But this would be no cakewalk for the Bearcats, who fell behind early in the fourth quarter.

Hall gained 123 yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns. He carried 18 times in the fourth quarter after Army had taken a 29-26 lead with 13:38 to go.

Eight of those carries came on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a 6-yard Hall touchdown run with 8:54 to go to return the lead to UC for good.

Hall said he wasn't 100 percent, but when Minter asked if he could go back into the game, he strapped on his helmet and went in.

"Once you go out there and he says, 'Hike,' you go into a daze," Hall said. "There's no pain, no nothing. You either go hard or go home."

Following Hall's touchdown, UC defensive tackle Ka'Son Love sacked Army quarterback Zac Dahman , forced a fumble and recovered the ball at the Army 18.

But on fourth-and-goal at the Army one, Hall was stopped short of the goal line.

The Black Knights, who committed four turnovers of their own, had one last chance to take the lead when they took over with 2:12 to go on the UC 42 following a UC face mask penalty on a punt return.

On second-and-4 from the 36, Dahman tried to hit wide receiver Aaron Alexander, but free safety Frank Callicott stepped in and intercepted the pass to seal the victory.

"It was getting a little hairy," Callicott said, "but our defense stuck in there and put the nail on them."

The Bearcats held Army to 138 yards, just six on the ground. It was Army's lowest rushing total since the Black Knights were held to minus-9 against Penn State on Oct. 9, 1976 and UC's best effort against the run since 1997 when it held Kansas to minus-46.

"We were lucky to win this one," said defensive end Andre Frazier, "but we have a lot of work to do."

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com

Army	7	7	7	8-29
Cincinnati	7	10	9	7-33

First Quarter

CIN-Hall 1 run (Manfredini kick), 12:33.

ARMY-Alexander 20 pass from Dahman (Zurisko kick), :43.

Second Quarter

ARMY-Alexander 5 pass from Dahman (Zurisko kick), 10:08.

CIN-Murray 2 run (Manfredini kick), 3:22.

CIN-FG Manfredini 24, 1:00.

Third Quarter

CIN-FG Ervin 36, 8:44.

CIN-Jones 10 run (pass failed), 5:17.

ARMY-Jones 4 pass from Dahman (Zurisko kick), 1:09.

Fourth Quarter

ARMY-Daniels 3 blocked punt return (White pass from Dahman), 13:38.

CIN-Hall 6 run (Manfredini kick), 8:54.

A-22,025.

	Cin	Army
First downs	13	22
Rushes-yards	26-6	56-186
Passing	132	159
Comp-Att-Int	11-27-3	17-28-1
Return Yards	185	83
Punts-Avg.	6-33	4-29
Fumbles-Lost	1-1	1-0
Penalties-Yards	3-30	10-100
Time of Possession	22:05	37:47

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Army, Jones 17-19, White 2-6, Robinson 2-1, Dahman 5-(minus 20). Cincinnati, Hall 30-123, Jones 16-62, Koester 3-22, Guidugli 1-2, Vann 1-1, Murray 2-0, team 3-(minus 24).

PASSING-Army, Dahman 11-27-3-132. Cincinnati, Guidugli 17-28-1-159.

RECEIVING-Army, Alexander 4-64, White 3-33, Jones 2-10, Murphy 1-22, Mason 1-3. Cincinnati, Poland 3-39, Murray 3-24, Hall 3-19, Daniels 2-30, Ross 2-11, Thomas 1-13, Lewis 1-8, Koester 1-8, Hazel 1-7.