Elder grad Bujnoch returns to UC's offensive line
Nov. 30, 2013 1:41 PM


Bearcats offensive line helps fuel 6-game win stre...: UC has allowed only 11 sacks all year (Nov. 30, 2013)

Written by
Tom Groeschen

The big, wide grin of Austen Bujnoch is bigger and wider these days. The University of Cincinnati senior guard and Elder High School product is back in the lineup, part of a Bearcats offensive line that has helped produce a six-game winning streak.

Bujnoch recently missed three games with a nagging foot injury. The ailment may not go away soon, but Bujnoch is not about to miss his final regular season game when UC (9-2, 6-1 American Athletic Conference) faces Louisville (10-1, 6-1) on Thursday at Nippert Stadium (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

“We’re back to playing our old style of football, moving fast, using our athletic ability to get out there,” Bujnoch said.

UC still could reach a BCS bowl by beating Louisville and having Central Florida (9-1, 7-0 AAC) lose its final game next Saturday at SMU (5-6, 4-3 AAC), according to BCS expert Jerry Palm of CBSSports.com. That scenario would leave UC and Central Florida as AAC co-champions, and Palm forecasts that the Bearcats would surpass Central Florida in the tiebreaker – the final BCS standings.

The UC offensive line has helped fuel the team’s recent surge, and Bearcats quarterbacks have been sacked only 11 times all year.

“That is unheard of, with how many times we throw the ball,” UC coach Tommy Tuberville said.

Entering Saturday’s games, UC was tied for No. 13 nationally in fewest sacks allowed.

The primary starters have been junior Eric Lefeld at left tackle, Bujnoch at left guard, redshirt freshman Deyshawn Bond at center, senior Sam Longo at right guard and sophomore Parker Ehinger at right tackle. Lefeld and Bujnoch both were first team All-Big East last year, and UC joined the new AAC this year.

All except Bond were returning starters. Bond took over in training camp when another returning starter, senior center Dan Sprague, suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Andre Cureton, Cory Keebler, Dominic Mainello and Kevin Schloemer are among others who have contributed up front. Entering the year, UC was rated by Athlon Sports as the No. 9 offensive line in America.

“I think we came into the season as the offensive line being the strong point of our unit,” Longo said. “I don’t think that’s changed. It’s tough to see some of your friends go down, for sure, but I think we’ve recovered.”

Offensive line coach Darren Hiller was part of the new staff of first-year UC head coach Tuberville. There was a period of adjustment as UC went 3-2 through its first five games, including a 26-20 upset loss Oct. 5 at South Florida. Since then, UC has won six straight.

“We finally found the key to spreading it out and going a little bit faster in the fourth quarter of the South Florida game,” Tuberville said. “After that, it’s been all downhill. We’ve been on a run and scoring touchdowns and catching balls. It’s fun to stand on the sidelines and watch our offense.”

UC quarterback Brendon Kay entered the weekend ranked No. 3 nationally in completion percentage (70.3).

“They’ve been outstanding,” Kay said of his linemen. “They’re really clicking, which has allowed the rest of us to go out there and do what we do. But it all starts with them.”

Louisville clearly is the biggest challenge of the season.

“It comes down to us,” Bujnoch said. “(Louisville) is the No. 2 defense in the nation, and we can’t move the ball unless the offensive line is working.”

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131...nsive-line