A friend called frantically to tell me there were four U.F.O.'s around Clifton that he saw driving down I-71. I had to inform him that rather than a news scoop, he was on the dark side of whats happening in town tonight. Those were army skydivers I told him. He slinked away into the night.
UC and the UConn Huskies meanwhile swapped first quarter touchdowns. Isiah Pead from one yard out. The Huskies six yards by Jordan Toddman.
Jacob Rogers hit a 41 yard field goal with 4:55 left in the quarter for a 10-7 UC lead.
Very exciting, very live, loud crowd that is in to it.
Zach Collaros caps a 10 play, 87 yard drive by diving into the end zone on the first play of the second quarter. Rogers adds extra point. 17-7 UC. UC has 239 yards offense to UConn's 78 at this point. Collaros has had plenty of time to throw and when protection has broken down, he's shown elusiveness that Huskies have been ill-equipped to deal with. The Huskies are putting up far more offense than anyone other than the UC coaches were anticipating.
A dropped ball by Marcus Easley at the 16 yard line on third and 6. This thwarts the Huskies first drive of the second quarter. A 42 yard field goal capped their 10play drive, to pull the huskies within 7 at 17-10.
As we reported during Bearcat Fever: Climb to the Top, our 1-hour special before the game, Tony Pike appeared to be preparing to enter the game. He had his helmet on, while Zach Collaros was holding his. Brian Kelly obviously changed his mind because after a change of possession, Pike retreated and Collaros resumed his play calling.
The Bearcats have uncharacteristically been called for two 15 yard penalties on this possession. Kelly not happy. Big completion on third and nine to Mardy Gilyard for 18 yards. First down UC threatening with another big completion, this time to Adrian Robinson to the 18 yard line.
UConn's four man rush, having little effect on Collaros. When they do threaten to bring extras, UC compensates with inside hand offs or quick slants.
Facing fourth and 2 at the 8 yard line, Kelly in a quandary. they take a time out to mull it over and with 4:53 left in the half. the thinking is that Kelly being Kelly will go for it. They don't. Jake Rogers is good from 27 yards. 20-10 UC. Coaches decision obviously.UC's decision to take the field goal paid off handsomely. UConn did nothing with the ensuing possession, UC got a good punt return and Collaros went to work. First to Gilyard and then from 41 yards out to Armon Binns. He made a highlight reel catch in the back of the end zone, despite coverage that warranted an interference call. UC up 27-10 with :19 left in first half.
Another punt, another 54 yard bomb from Collaros to Adrien Robinson, first and goal from the 8. Clock against them, they opt for a 34 yard field goal. 457 yards to 144 in total offense for the first half. All UC.
Among the luminaries on hand tonight, Nick Lachey who made a sizeable donation to the facilities upgrade fund and challenged others to kick in what they can.
UConn has some weapons as Brian Kelly pointed out to his players all week. Jordan Todman is one of them. He just took a hand off, juked one defender at the line and bolted 46 yards for a touchdown with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. that cut the UC Bearcats lead to 30-17.
The Huskies defense has likewise been roused from its first half reverie. But have been quickly throttled by UC's Isiah Pead and Mardy Gilyard. Pead ripped off an 18 yard run from deep in Cincinnati territory followed by a first down pass to Gilyard.
From the 38 yard line, Zach Collaros did the one thing he does better than Tony Pike and that is tuck the ball and run. The play was similar to the quarterback draw he ran in the South Florida game on third and 11. That one he took 75 yards for the clinching touchdown. This one covered less than half of that but featured a big hit at the 7 , a 360 spin and lunge into the end zone for his 2nd touchdown of then night. UC back in control by 20 points, 37-17. One glaring stat from the first half. UC penalized 5 times for 54 yards. That was obviously addressed at half time. No infractions since as we stand at the 6 minute mark of the third quarter.
Former Bearcat Haruki Nakamura, now of the Baltimore Ravens flirting with a curfew violation as he's taking in the game, in the company of Bootsy Collins. He's nursing an injury and may not be activated for tomorrows' game versus the Bengals. Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh might be inclined to cut him some slack considering he was a long time UC assistant.
No one though, would approve of the 87 yard punt return for a touchdown by Robert McClain that just silenced the standing room only crowd here at Nippert Stadium. Special teams breakdowns are another taboo to Brian Kelly and his staff.
That was a big one as he found a seam up the middle and simply outran the field. that makes it 37-24 Bearcats with 2:08 left in the third.
Any plans Kelly had to get Tony Pike or Chazz Anderson some work probably just went away.
But just like that, Collaros hits Armon Binns for 31 yards and they're threatening to again claim the upper hand. DJ Woods takes a rifle pass in the flat for 12 yards and a first down. Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit are getting an eyeful.
And again, no second half penalties for the Bearcats and for the 9th game in a row, they have yet to lose a fumble. Hopefully I won't live to regret those words as the third quarter ends.
Anotherbig UConn play, this one a 52 yard pass and run by Khasif Moore, set upa 1 yard touchdown run by Jordan Todman with 13:21 left. Adding insult to thatinjury, a two point conversion that cuts the Bearcats one time lead of20 points to just 8, 40-32. UC's amassed 652 yards of offense, 447 ofthat via Zach Collaros passing but they've stalled in the red zone,necessitating 4 Jake Rogers field goals. UConn by contrast keepsscoring in bunches of 6. We have a game at 'the Nip'.
I'll be back with the final score.
