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Mauk's four TDs help Cincinnati pound punchless Connecticut

Nov 11, 2007 - 2:26 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Ben Mauk and Cincinnati took down another ranked opponent.

Mauk threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score Saturday as the Bearcats pounded 16th-ranked Connecticut, 27-3, to remain in contention for the Big East Conference title.

It was the third victory over a ranked team this season for Cincinnati (8-2, 3-2 Big East), which held on for a 38-33 triumph over then-No. 20 South Florida last week. The Bearcats also toppled then-No. 21 Rutgers on October 6.

"What we want to do is continue to build our program so we're competing for a Big East championship," Cincinnati first-year coach Brian Kelly said. "You don't want to do it in Year Seven. You want to do it right away."

Thanks to their easy win over the Huskies (8-2, 4-1), the Bearcats climbed within one game of first place in the conference standings.

"It was disappointing that we had our worst effort of the season," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "But it's difficult to win when you don't win the battle at the line of scrimmage. We knew they were a physical team."

Cincinnati closes out its home schedule next week against sixth-ranked West Virginia (8-1, 3-1) before visiting Syracuse in its season finale November 24.

"It was another elimination game for us," Kelly said. "It came down to we needed to play physical football. We were able to put points on the board early, which changes the complexion of what Connecticut wants to do. They've been up early in their games."

"The best way to put it is - we got our mojo back," said defensive end Anthony Hoke, who had three sacks. "As seniors, this means a lot to us. With two games left, we've put ourselves in position to win the Big East championship."

Cincinnati methodically pounded UConn in this one, limiting the punchless Huskies to just 11 first downs and 204 yards of total offense to improve to 4-0 all-time in this series.

"We had trouble getting momentum," UConn quarterback Tyler Lorenzen said. "When we did, we did something to hurt ourselves whether it was penalties or bad reads."

Meanwhile, Mauk got the Bearcats off to a quick start offensively by throwing a pair of first-quarter TDs, including a one-yarder to Connor Barwin to open the scoring three minutes into the contest.

Cincinnati capitalized on a mistake later in the opening quarter, when defensive tackle Adam Hoppel intercepted Lorenzen on a pass which was tipped in the air by Hoke.

"Man, that's just the way the cookie crumbles," Hoke said. "It was just my night tonight. I'll take it. We wanted to get after (Lorenzen). As a defense, we wanted to get a statement."

Hoppel rumbled down to the UConn 6, and Mauk found Charley Howard for a six-yard TD two plays later to make it 13-0 with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

"It seems like every week we talk about a new receiver," Mauk said of Howard. "We have a lot of depth at receiver. This is a new offense for this team. We're still trying to figure out who our top receivers are."

Mauk also ran for an 11-yard score in the third quarter and hooked up with Dominick Goodman for a 37-yard TD in the fourth to make it 27-3. The senior finished 21-of-33 for 276 yards.

"They don't allow the big play, they allow you to complete the underneath stuff," Mauk said. "We tried to get them to come up for the short play, and we hit them over the top with Goodman there."

"Ben had to make some plays with his feet," Kelly said. "He was smart with the football. He got rid of it when he needed to. I thought he was on top of his game tonight. I think in a big-game situation, that's the best I've seen him play."

The Huskies, who still control their own destiny in the Big East, managed just 22 rushing yards on 22 carries. Star running back Andre Dixon was held to 35 yards on 12 attempts.

"We're not going to change what we do," Edsall said. "We'll be all right, but we were up against a good team. You can't be productive when your quarterback is hit as many times as he was."

Forced to throw for most of the second half, Lorenzen finished 18-of-37 for 182 yards.

"We have to look ourselves in the mirror and find a way," he said. "They won the physical battle. By no means is it demoralizing at all. We're a mature team. We'll be all right."