No rally for Bulls this time in loss to Cincinnati


USF freshman running back Marlon Mack was held to 54 yards as Cincinnati outgained the Bulls 590-280 in sending South Florida to its fifth loss in eight games this season.

BY LAUREL PFAHLER
Tribune correspondent
Published: October 24, 2014

CINCINNATI — Mike White’s first-half struggles continued Friday night, but this time, there was no recovering for the sophomore quarterback and the University of South Florida.

Cincinnati defensive back Howard Wilder intercepted White on the second play from scrimmage, and that set the tone for his night. White committed four turnovers before junior Steven Bench replaced him early in the third quarter.

The Bearcats, who replaced their sophomore quarterback for different reasons in the second half, took advantage of the Bulls’ miscues en route to a 34-17 win at Paul Brown Stadium.

USF (3-5, 2-2 AAC) was coming off its largest comeback victory in program history after White led the Bulls back from a 27-7 halftime deficit last week at Tulsa.

White’s first of two first-half interceptions set up the Bearcats’ first score less than three minutes into the game. UC (4-3, 2-1) drove 84 yards on six plays to take a 7-0 lead on Gunner Kiel’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Johnny Holton.

The Bulls’ offense continued to stall throughout the first half, as it managed just 129 yards and no touchdowns. After Demetrius Hill recovered a Bearcats fumble, USF had to settle for a 44-yard field goal from Marvin Kloss to get on the board, trailing 10-3 with 21 seconds left in the first quarter.

That would be the Bulls’ only score until the fourth quarter, and by then, it was too late to mount a comeback.

White fumbled an exchange on the next offensive series, and five plays later, the Bearcats were in the end zone again. UC took a 20-3 lead into the locker room with the help of a 38-yard field goal by Andrew Gantz, but Kiel suffered what appeared to be a rib injury on the play before that and missed the second half.

Kiel finished with 196 yards and one touchdown, while completing 13 of 22 passes, and had a 17-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Any motivational speech the USF staff gave at halftime didn’t have the effect of whatever was said the previous week. White fumbled on the Bulls’ first drive of the second half, and Bench came in for the next series.

USF coach Willie Taggart had contemplated pulling White at halftime last week but kept him in, and White made sure he didn’t regret the decision. He finished that game with 273 yards passing and three touchdowns. This time, he managed just 92 yards on 11-for-19 passing on a night in which his two interceptions and two fumbles stood out most.

Bench threw for 147 yards and two scores

Cincinnati pushed its lead to 27-3 early in the fourth quarter, and the teams traded scores from there. USF’s offense struggled against a defense that had allowed as many as 731 yards — to Ohio State in its third game. Marlon Mack finished with a team-high 54 yards rushing, as the Bulls were outgained 590-280.

Had the Bulls been able to repeat last week’s performance, they could have reached the .500 mark at the latest point in a season since 2011. USF has only won one game in Cincinnati in six tries, and the Bulls have dropped 22 of their past 31 since opening 2011 at 4-0. They were 3-9 and 2-10 the past two seasons.

USF hasn’t won two straight road games on back-to-back weekends since 2009 (at Florida State 17-7 and at Syracuse 34-20).

http://tbo.com/sports/colleges/usf-bulls...-20141024/

UC gets big conference win over USF
Tom Groeschen, tgroeschen@enquirer.com 10:41 p.m. EDT October 24, 2014

True freshman Mike Boone erupted for 212 yards rushing but the University of Cincinnati lost starting quarterback Gunner Kiel to injury Friday night, in a 34-17 win over South Florida.

Boone, from Macclenny, Fla., entered the year as UC's No. 4 running back. He did not start Friday's game at Paul Brown Stadium but wound up carrying 19 times, with one touchdown.

Top UC back Hosey Williams (knee) is probably out for the year and No. 2 back Tion Green (sports hernia) is definitely out for the year, with No. 3 back Rod Moore starting the past few weeks.


University of Cincinnati's Howard Wilder, 3, intercepts a pass intended for Rodney Adams during the first quarter of their game played at Paul Brown Stadium. (Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

Moore started again Friday and carried 10 times for 28 yards, but Boone had the hot hand and gradually carried the load.

UC's last 200-yard rushing game was by Isaiah Pead, who had 222 yards against Rutgers on Nov. 20, 2010.

At quarterback, Kiel was hurt late in the first half and left the field in pain. Kiel has been dealing with bruised ribs and was being evaluated for that ailment again Friday night, UC spokesman Ryan Koslen said.

UC (4-3, 2-1 American Athletic Conference) won for the second straight week.

USF (3-5, 2-2 AAC) was outgained 590-281 by the Bearcats in total yardage.

Shaq Washington had 12 catches for 163 yards for UC, just one catch shy of the school record for one game.

UC led 20-3 when Kiel went out.

Sophomore Kiel completed 13-of-22 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for a 17-yard TD, the first of his UC career that began this season.

Fifth-year senior Munchie Legaux took over at quarterback to start the second half, with fellow backup quarterback Jarred Evans suspended indefinitely after his recent arrest on a misdemeanor assault charge.

Legaux was a crisp 14-for-15 passing for 121 yards as UC played it safe offensively in the second half, but the big moment was when Legaux scored on a rushing touchdown.

After a scoreless third quarter, Legaux scored on a 9-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter to give UC a 27-3 lead. It was Legaux's first touchdown since his comeback from a horrific knee injury, which ended his 2013 season after two games.

It was an emotional moment for Legaux, who slid deep into the end zone on his knees and then bowed his head to the turf. Teammates rushed up to mob Legaux, who was given a standing ovation by the crowd.

Bearcats cornerback Howard Wilder intercepted a pass to stop USF's first drive, on the game's second play from scrimmage. UC started from there, at its own 16-yard line.

The Bearcats soon converted with a 38-yard TD pass from Kiel to wideout Johnny Holton, and UC had a 7-0 lead with 12:05 left in the first quarter.

Washington returned a punt 46 yards – a UC season best – to set up the Bearcats' next score, a 20-yard field goal by Andrew Gantz. That put UC ahead 10-0 with 7:41 left in the first quarter.

USF cut the Bearcats' lead to 10-3 on a 44-yard field goal by Marvin Kloss, with 21 seconds left in the first quarter.

UC got the score back on a 17-yard TD run by Kiel, the first rushing score of his career. That gave the Bearcats a 17-3 lead with 6:57 left until halftime.

UC took a 20-3 lead on the final play of the first half, on a 23-yard field goal by Gantz.

After Legaux's TD in the fourth period, USF scored on a 67-yard TD pass from Steven Bench to Rodney Adams to trim the Bearcats' lead to 27-10.

Boone scored on a 7-yard run to put UC ahead 34-10 with 12:55 remaining.

The UC defense allowed a 38-yard TD pass from Bench to Andre Davis less than a minute later, and USF was back within 17 points at 34-17.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/c.../17870359/