The Cincinnati Bearcats have won the Big East Championship for the second year in a row and they're heading to either the Sugar Bowl, the Orange Bowl, or if many things fall in place, the national championship game.
The victory came in a thrilling 45 to 44 shootout over the Pitt Panthers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh went ahead in the game with 1:36 left to play on a five yard run by Dion Lewis. But the point after failed when the snap was mishandled. So Pittsburgh led by six.
Cincinnati took the kickoff and quickly marched down the field for the winning score
Tony Pike hit Armon Binns with a 29 yard touchdown pass with :28 left in the game. Jake Rogers kicked the extra point to provide the margin of victory.
It was a remarkable comeback for Cincinnati, which trailed by three touchdowns in the second quarter.
The two teams traded touchdowns in the first quarter. Dion Lewis followed a long Pittsburgh drive with a four yard run. Jacob Ramsey finished a quick Cincinnati drive with a two yard plunge.
The second quarter got out of hand for UC. Bill Stull connected with Jonathan Baldwin on a 22-yard touchdown pass. After Jake Rogers kicked a field goal for UC, Stull and Baldwin hooked up again on a scoring pass of 40-yards.
Pittsburgh took a three touchdown lead late in the second quarter with a Dan Hutchins field goal, and a Bill Stull run of three yards that followed a blocked punt.
With 1:18 left in the second quarter, Pittsburgh led 31-10. That's when Mardy Gilyard returned a kickoff 100 yards for a Cincinnati touchdown. It took the momentum away from Pittsburgh, who still led 31-17 at halftime.
The Bearcats moved a touchdown closer in the third quarter. Tony Pike finished a brief 78 yard drive with a 68 yard touchdown pass to Gilyard.
Pitt regained a two touchdown advantage in the fourth quarter when Lewis ran 15 yards for another touchown. It was 38-24 with 12:26 remaining in the game.
UC never quit. Pike finished another quick drive with an eight-yard pass to DJ Woods, but the point after failed. Cincinnati trailed by eight points.
Isaiah Peah then ran one yard for a touchdown with 5:46 left in the fourth quarter to draw the Bearcats to within two points. Pike then floated a pass to Gilyard to complete the two-point conversion.
UC had tied the game at 38 with 5:46 remaining. That led to the end-of-the-game heroics.
UC will watch championships being decided in the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 later Saturday which will help decide their bowl placement. The BCS selections will take place on Sunday.
Recap each step of the action as it unfolded in the
UC-Pittsburgh Blog.
