The Result:
UConn left it’s offense and defense at home in Storrs as Ben Mauk threw for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns to lead the Bearcats past the Huskies on Saturday at Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati. The loss was the Huskies first in Big East Conference Play and drops them to 4-1 in the conference and 8-2 overall. The Bearcats are also 8-2 overall and are 3-2 in the conference.
UConn was totally dominated on both sides of the ball today as Cincinnati racked up over 400 yards of total offense to UConn’s 204.
Scoring Plays:
1st quarter
- CIN – Mauk 1-yard pass to Barwin – kick good -Cincinnati 7-0
- CIN – Mauk 6-yard pass to Howard – kick no good – Cincinnati 13-0
2nd quarter
- CON – Ciaravino 22-yard field goal – Cincinnati 13-3
3rd quarter
- CIN – Mauk 12-yard run – kick good – Cincinnati 20-3
4th quarter
- CIN – Mauk 37-yard pass to Goodman – kick good – Cincinnati 27-3
Offensive Player of the Game:
Cincinnati quarterback Ben Mauk. He threw for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed for one touchdown.
Defensive Player of the Game:
Cincinnati defensive end Anthony Hoke had 3 sacks and 3 tackles plus 1 pass block.
Turning Point(s) of the Game:
UConn had allowed only 24 points all season in the first quarter. Cincinnati scores on it’s first possession and never looked back.
Offensive Notes:
Lorenzen was sacked for a loss in the 1st quarter.
Lorenzen naked bootleg good for 16 yards was taken back by a Brad Kanuch clipping penalty.
Lorenzen had a pass knocked down that was picked off by Cincy to give them the ball at UConn’s 6-yard line.
Jeffers has sure first down but looked away and pass drops incomplete.
Lorenzen completes a screen pass to Dixon for 24 yards and then on the next play Lorenzen gets sacked.
Lorenzen throws 21 yard pass to D.J. Hernandez for first down.
Jeffers went sideline to sideline to sideline on an end around for no gain.
Defensive Notes:
Julius Williams sacked Ben Mauk to force a punt.
A trio of Huskies combined on a sack of Mauk to force a punt.
Lindsey Witten picks up a 15-yard late hit after Mauk runs out of bounds. There had a been a Cincy holding call on the play as well.
Defense has Cincy 3rd and long and they bust open a 32-yard screen pass.
UConn gets them in 3rd and long again, gives up a 15-yard pass.
Special Teams Notes:
Cincinnati player runs into Larry Taylor while waiting to make a fair catch.
Cincy player runs in Desi Cullen for a 15-yard roughing kicker to give UConn a first down.
Larry Taylor returns a punt only 7 yards but ran about 60 yards sideways and backwards.
Coaching Decisions:
Cincy lines up to go for it on 4th and 1 at their own 19 yard line. Then they decide to call a timeout and punt.
UConn goes for it 4th and 11 at Cincinnati’s 36 yard line and only completes a 5 yard pass.
Cincy has 4th and 2 at UConn’s 36 yard line and they go for it. Mauk throws an incomplete pass giving the ball back to UConn.
Injuries:
1st qtr – UConn’s Alex LaMagdelaine injured his left knee and was carried off the field. He didn’t return.
4th qtr- UConn’s Will Beatty walked off under his own power. Unsure of his return.
The Officials:
Refs blew a running play dead on Cincy when the runner was clearly still moving forward. The officials made the right call on a Lorenzen 36-yard pass to Kanuch that was ruled incomplete on the field. The replays confirmed the call.
Game Notes:
Sun Bowl officials were at the game today looking at both teams.
ESPNU kept giving updates to other games like between every play it seems.
The field goal by Tony Ciaravino was his 20th of the season. That ties him with Matt Nuzie for the most all-time in one season.
UConn and Ohio State were the only teams to give up less than 20 points all season. They both lost today and gave up more than 20 as UConn gave up 27 and Ohio State gave up 28.
Today marked the first time that an opponent has thrown for more than one touchdown against the Huskies this year.
The Huskies dip to 2-2 on the road this year.
Cincinnati and West Virginia are the only BIG EAST schools that UConn has never defeated.
Big East Games and Results:
West Virginia 38 Louisville 31
Rutgers 41 Army 6
South Florida 41 Syracuse 10
Next week’s opponent:
UConn returns home to Rentschler Field next Saturday to take on the Syracuse Orange at Noon.
