Cincinnati Bearcats vs Syracuse Orange Match Player Stats On Nov 26, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 26, 2011

Cincinnati remains in contention for its third Big East title in four years after a 30-13 road win over slumping Syracuse.

Munchie Legaux threw for two touchdowns as Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2 Big East) snapped a two-game skid and picked up its first win since losing starting quarterback Zach Collaros to an ankle injury.

Cincinnati can clinch a share of the conference title with a win next week against Connecticut, and it can earn the Big East’s automatic BCS bowl berth with a win and a West Virginia loss at South Florida. The Bearcats own the tiebreaker with Louisville, which already finished its season with just two conference losses.

Syracuse (5-6, 1-5 Big East), meanwhile, needs a win in its finale at Pittsburgh to qualify for a second straight bowl game. The Orange haven’t looked like a bowl team lately, losing four straight and fading on both sides of the ball. Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib couldn’t take advantage of the nation’s 110th-ranked pass defense, converting just 4 of 15 third downs.

Syracuse’s Senior Day was really ruined earlier in the week with the suspension of junior safety Phillip Thomas. The Orange could have surely used their leading tackler to not only limit Legaux in the pocket but also to curtail the Bearcats’ powerful running attack. Their two-quarterback system produced some much needed balance, as Jordan Luallen rushed for a 77 yards out of the option while running back Isaiah Pead combined for 192 total yards and two touchdowns.