Mardy Gilyard Speaks Cincinnati Comeback
The National Championship hopes of Cincinnati were almost dashed by an upstart Pitt defense, pulling off a huge comeback victory at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA. With its 45-44 victory, Cincinnati earned an automatic bid to a BCS bowl game and must await the results of the Big 12 Championship game between Texas and Nebraska. A Texas loss will likely lead to Cincinnati earning an invite to the Rose Bowl and a shot at the national championship.
Flustered by the Pitt defense, the high-powered Cincinnati offense failed to fire as it had all season leading up to the Big East championship game, often looking unprepared and out of sync. Entering the game, Cincinnati led the NCAA in least turnovers, having only 2 fumbles lost and 5 interceptions for the entire season. Heisman Trophy candidate Tony Pike committed three interceptions that hamstrung his team and led to a sideline verbal altercation with head coach Brian Kelly.
Pitt initiated its game plan to perfection in the first half, feeding the ball to its star running back Dion Lewis 12 times on the opening drive as Pittsburgh got on the board first at 7-0. Cincinnati responded quickly on the next drive with a quick touchdown drive, highlighted by 40 yard run by Isaiah Pead, to tie the score at 7-7.
Riding the legs of Lewis, Pitt fed the ball over and over again to their offensive stud, driving them down the field before a 22 yard TD pass from Bill Stull to Jonathan Baldwin to open the second quarter. Cincinnati once again moved quickly down the field, but was halted by a terrific goal line stand by Pitt, settling for a field goal to bring the score to 14-10.
The momentum shifted fast into the direction of Pitt, as Stull completed a 23-yard pass to Mike Shanahan, followed by a 40 yard touchdown strike to Baldwin that gave Pitt a 21-10 lead. Cincinnati went to the air to close the gap, but Pike was intercepted on a sideline thrown by Dom Decicco. Pitt seized the opportunity feeding the ball once again to Lewis and scoring a field goal to extend their lead to 24-10. On the ensuing drive, the Pittsburgh defense held serve again. Cincinnati punter Jake Rogers then mishandled the punt snap and Pittburgh took over on downs at the Cincinnati 5. Pittsburgh quickly capitalized with a 3 yard plunge by QB Stull to extend the lead to 31-10.
Looking down-and-out, Cincinnati needed a big play to shift the momentum. All-American WR Mardy Gilyard responded by returning the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to close the gap to 31-17. The Cincinnati defense then came up big, getting a stop deep in Pitt territory with time running out. A poor Pitt punt, combined with a 15-yard personal foul gave Cincinnati the ball on the Pitt 35. QB Tony Pike then telegraphed a rollout pass that was intercepted by Elijiah Field. On the very next play, Pitt turned the ball back over when Stull was intercepted by Cincinnati’s Aaron Webster as the first half came to an end.
Cincinnati got on the board first in the second half, with Tony Pike engineering another scoring drive which was highlighted by a 68-yard catch and run by Gilyard to bring the score to 31-24. Pitt coach Dave Wannestedt kept with his conservative approach, grinding it out on the ground, but not with the same success as in first half, as Cincy got the ball back again after holding Lewis in check.
Following a great 50-yard punt out-of-bounds by Pitt’s Dan Hutchins, Cincy went back on offense with a quick attack mentality. After a 7 yard rush by Pead and 16 yard catch by Armon Binns, Pike made an ill-advised heave down field that was intercepted by Pitt’s Jarred Holley at the Pitt 17. As Pike came of the field, heated words were exchanged between Pike and Coach Brian Kelly. Kelly called for backup QB Zach Collaros to begin warming up on the sidelines, signaling an end to Tony Pike’s day at the helm.
As the game moved into 4th quarter, fireworks exploded as the teams went back and forth with scoring drives. Cincinnati sent Tony Pike back on the field to finish what he started and Coach Brian Kelly was not to be disappointed in his decision. Pitt struck first with a 15-yard touchdown run by Lewis to make the score 38-24 with 12:26 to go. Cincy’s Gilyard once again stood up and delivered a 49 yard kick return to setup a D.J. Wood touchdown reception, but Cincy kicker Jake Rogers nailed the upright, missing the extra point to leave the score at 38-30.
Pitt followed with a 3-and-out, giving Pike another chance to drive his team down the field and he delivered, directing a 7 play, 68 yard drive to close the gap to 38-36. Pike then hooked up with Gilyard for a two-point conversion reception to tie the score at 38-38 with 5:46 left in the game.
The ball was placed back into Dion Lewis’ hands, as Pitt fed their workhorse all the way down the field for a final 5-yard touchdown run by Lewis. The star running back ended the day with 47 carries for 195 yards, as well as 5 catches for 34 yards. Unfortunately for Pitt, bad luck turned their way, as they mishandled the extra point snap, leaving the door open for a comeback with the lead at 44-38 with 1:36 to play.
Cue Tony Pike…Superstar. Pike put his struggles behind him, completing four straight passes for 70 yards, culminating in the game winning touchdown to Armon Binns with 0:33 left on the clock. The Cincy defense then did its job, shutting down the Pitt passing game for the victory.
Despite all the media attention shone on Brian Kelly this week and the rumors he is leaving Cincinnati to take the head coaching job at Notre Dame, Cincinnati was able to pull it all together in the 4th quarter to keep its championship hopes alive. And Tony Pike made sure that references to another Tony famous for choking in big games…Romo…would not be levied upon him by delivering when it counted in the end.
Given the performance put on today by the Cincinnati Bearcats, if they are not in the national championship game, a playoff system needs to be instituted to award such great play.
