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HIGH POWERED CINCINNATI OUTLASTS UCONN

Cincinnati offensive firepower too much for Huskies to overcome in the end

By Raphielle Johnson

At halftime of Saturday night’s game between the Connecticut Huskies and Cincinnati Bearcats it looked as if the emotional toll of the past three weeks had brought Randy Edsall’s team to its’ collective breaking point. Down 30-10 with no answers for one of the country’s most powerful offenses, many would have understood if the Huskies simply folded the tent with an eye cast toward a well-deserved bye week.

And if you thought that was actually going to happen, you were mistaken.

Despite a defensive effort that allowed 711 yards of total offense (the most UConn has given up as an FBS member) to the nation’s fifth-ranked team UConn fought all the way back, falling 47-45 at Nippert Stadium when all signs pointed to the game evolving into a blowout. Down 40-38 following a Jordan Todman 2-yard touchdown run with 5:03 remaining, QB Zach Frazer was sacked on a two-point conversion attempt that would have tied the game.

The Bearcats (9-0, 5-0 Big East) were able to gain permanent separation with an Isaiah Pead 12-yard run on 4th and one, and it’s a good thing they did since Frazer hit Marcus Easley on a nine-yard strike with thirteen seconds remaining in the game. Now 4-5 (1-4 Big East) on the season Randy Edsall’s team heads into their bye week; the players will be off until Wednesday and then have Friday and Saturday off following two days of practice.

As for what happened in Cincinnati on Saturday night, there were some positives. First off, Frazer didn’t turn the ball over to a team that leads the conference in turnover margin. Zach completed nineteen of thirty-two passes for 261 yards and a touchdown and outside of a couple of instances of holding onto the ball too long in the face of the Bearcat pass rush he had a solid night.

Jordan Todman was the offensive star for the Huskies, rushing for 162 yards and four touchdowns along with a pair of receptions for thirty-one yards. He also completed a pass for two points to Marcus Easley to cut the margin to 40-32 with 13:21 remaining. Andre Dixon was rendered ineffective due to a left knee injury that hobbled him for much of the evening following the first half knock, making the sophomore’s effort all the more impressive.

Receivers Marcus Easley (6 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD) and Kashif Moore (4 catches, 77 yards) continued their improved play of late, and Brad Kanuch and Ryan Griffin also made contributions in the passing game when looking at the traditional options. The return game was also solid thanks to the kickoff efforts of Todman (124 yards on six returns) and the punt returns of Robert McClain (118 yards on three returns, including an 87-yard touchdown).

But what did the Huskies in was their inability to tackle in space. For those (myself included) who wondered why the Cincinnati receivers were given such a cushion this was the answer. It’s been an issue for much of the season and it’s likely to be a focal point of the two mid-week practices coming up. If guys aren’t sure tacklers in one-on-one situations they cannot be expected to play tight pass defense; one miss and a guy like Mardy Gilyard is gone.

Next: at Notre Dame (November 21st at 2:30 PM on NBC)

The Fighting Irish dropped a 23-21 decision to Navy on Saturday, their second loss to the Midshipmen in the last three years (both in South Bend). With Notre Dame taking on Pitt this weekend, there could be a firestorm surrounding the storied program for their final home game regarding the status of Charlie Weis should they be handled by the Panthers. QB Jimmy Clausen has a trio of potent weapons to choose from in the passing game in receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd and tight end Kyle Rudolph but the defense has left something to be desired.

Raphielle’s Week 10 Big East Power Poll

Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
USF
West Virginia
Rutgers
Connecticut
Louisville
Syracuse