Sept. 18, 2005

Final Stats

Cincinnati, Ohio - Western Carolina held Cincinnati to its lowest point production in a home game since the 1998 season, but the Catamounts could not overcome two interceptions and a holding penalty on a touchdown run as the homestanding Bearcats held on for a 7-3 victory over Western Saturday night before 22,637 at Nippert Stadium.

The Catamounts were attempting to win its first game versus an NCAA I-A opponent since 1976, coming up short on 35 previous occasions. However, the four-point setback was the Catamounts closest to pulling an upset. Also, Western held the Bearcats to seven points (19 points below their season average of 26 ppg); held Cincinnati's quarterback, Dustin Grutza, to just 88 passing yards (who was averaging 231.0 prior to the game); and held the Bearcats to just 273 yards of total offense (with UC coming into the game averaging 414.5 to rank 37th in NCAA I-A). The seven points additionally marked Cincinnati's lowest point production at home since being shutout by Miami (OH) on Oct. 24, 1998 and just the eighth time the Bearcats scored seven points or less in a home game since 1980.

Western, who out-gained Cincinnati 284-to-273, looked to draw first blood as it drove to the Bearcat 17 late in the first quarter, but came up empty due to an interception by Haruki Nakamura.

Late in the second quarter, Cincinnati got on the scoreboard, driving 89 yards in nine plays in 2:20. Key plays during the drive came from quarterback Justin Grutza, who completed an 18-yard pass, ran for 11 yards and completed a 28-yard pass to Connor Barwin. Bradley Glatthaar, who rushed 18 times for 107 yards, capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run.

The Catamounts mounted a charge as the first half came to a close, getting to the Bearcat 19 with four seconds left. However, Western's 37-yard field goal as time expired sailed wide left.

Cincinnati looked to capitalize on the momentum from the end of the first half as the second half began, driving to the Western 28. WCU senior linebacker Andre Hemphill snatched the momentum back for the Cats as he intercepted his second pass of the season and the 10th by the Catamounts through three games. The Bearcats penetrated into WCU territory on their second drive of the third quarter as well, before missing a 51-yard field goal.

Late in the third quarter, Primus Glover forced a Cincinnati fumble, which was recovered by Travis Hill. Justin Clark had pass completions of 17, 13, 17 and nine yards to get to the Bearcat four. Stephen Brown would put what proved to be the final points of the game on the board, converting a 23-yard field goal for his first career trey.

From there, Western's defense took over, forcing punts on Cincinnati's final three possessions, with their longest drive being no more than six plays and three minutes long.

With 13:21 left in the game, Western started its most impressive drive of the night, covering 11 plays and 89 yards. Most of the drive was hard-nosed running by Lamont Reid and Darius Fudge. However, Clark found Michael Hines for a 50-yard pass, getting the Cats to the UC 13. One first and goal, Lamont Reid appeared to score the winning TD, but a holding call negated the run. Fudge made up for the call by gaining 11 yard on the ensuing play to the Bearcat five. On second and goal, Clark tried to hit Jacob Hannah for a pass at the goal line only to have Dominic Ross intercept the pass with 7:35 left.

Western had two final chances, but was forced to punt and threw an interception as time was running down to end the game.

Leading the way for the Catamounts was Lamar Barnes. The senior tallied 10 stops, including two tackles for losses. Offensively, Fudge carried the ball a career-high 17 times for 66 yards, while Clark attempted a career-high 39 passes, completing 19 for 201 yards.

For the Bearcats, Grutza, who ranked second in the Big East averaging over 230 passing yards per game and threw for 286 the previous week at Penn State, only managed 88 yards through the air, completing 10-of-24 passes.

Western Carolina will stay on the road to face Nicholls State on Sept. 24 in Thibodaux, La., which is located southwest of New Orleans. Kickoff is set for 2:00 pm (CT).