SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 24, 2014
Cincinnati 34, South Florida 17: Gunner Kiel threw for one touchdown and ran for another in one half of play while Mike Boone erupted for 212 rushing yards and a score to help the host Bearcats top the Bulls.
Kiel was 13-of-22 for 196 yards before hurting his side on a hit just before halftime and giving way to Munchie Legaux, who completed 14-of-15 passes and ran for a touchdown of his own. Shaq Washington had career highs of 12 catches and 163 yards for Cincinnati (4-3, 2-1 American Athletic Conference), which finished with 590 total yards and a 31-12 advantage in first downs.
After starting quarterback Mike White threw two interceptions and lost a pair of fumbles, South Florida (3-5, 2-2) turned to Steven Bench, who threw for 147 yards and two TDs in the second half. Andre Davis hauled in six catches for 77 yards and a score before being ejected for fighting midway through the fourth quarter.
White's first pass of the game was intercepted and Kiel made him pay moments later with a 38-yard TD pass to Johnny Holton. Following an exchange of field goals, Kiel broke through the line and ran 17 yards for another score to make it 17-3, and the Bearcats took a 20-3 lead into halftime.
Legaux rushed for a 9-yard score on the first play of the fourth to push the advantage to 27-3 and ignite a stretch that saw the teams combine for four TDs in less than three minutes. Bench had a pair of long scoring strikes during the span, including a 38-yarder to Davis with 12:19 left that capped the scoring.
GAME NOTEBOOK: South Florida CB Chris Dunkley also was ejected for targeting in the first quarter. ... Boone, a freshman, had just 32 yards on eight carries entering the game. ... Bulls RB Marlon Mack, the AAC's leading rusher, was limited to 54 yards on 12 carries.