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Cincinnati clocks Louisville

Nov 15, 2008 - 6:30 AM LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (Ticker) -- Cincinnati won a nail-biter to capture the Keg of Nails.

The 22nd-ranked Bearcats remain in control of their Big East and BCS destinies after a 28-20 victory over Louisville on Friday.

The victory snapped a stretch of five consecutive losses to the Cardinals (5-5, 1-4 Big East) by the Bearcats.

"I think I said earlier in the week that this wasn't much of rivalry. We had not won any games against Louisville in quite some time. I think we all can officially say the rivalry is back on," Bearcats coach Brian Kelly said. "I thought both teams played really hard, and there was a lot of emotion in the game tonight. And that is fitting of teams that are in the same conference 90 miles away."

Tony Pike was 18-of-32 for 250 yards passing and two touchdowns in the victory.

The game was a see-saw battle with Cincinnati (8-2, 4-1) jumping on top on a touchdown pass from Pike to Marshawn Gilyard that covered 48 yards in the first quarter.

Cantwell came back and led a drive that finished with a 2-yard run by James Bryant to tie it at 7-7.

A field goal by Ryan Payne from 23 yards gave the Cardinals their first lead, but Pike went back to work and had the Bearcats in front when Jacob Ramsey scored from a yard out.

Louisville regained the lead at the half, driving 75 yards and scoring on Victor Anderson's 3-yard run.

Payne kicked a field goal to make it 20-14 in favor of Louisville, but that was the end of the Cardinals' scoring.

Pike hit Dominick Goodman for a 32-yard scoring play to make it 21-20 in the third quarter. The reception was Goodman's 21st TD catch of his college career, tying Jim O'Brien's school record. That would be the same Jim O'Brien who kicked a field goal for the Baltimore Colts to beat the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V.

"It means a lot to this program, especially with Louisville having the keg for so long," said Goodman, who had nine catches for 134 yards. "For us to come out here on there home place, and winning the keg back. It means a lot to us, to bring it back to Cincinnati. That was a great thing."

Pike was knocked silly and let the game. Cincinnati sent Dustin Grutza into the game, his first appearance since suffering a broken right leg against Oklahoma on September 6.

Grutza led a touchdown drive that bumped the lead to 28-20 when John Goebel scored on a 6-yard run in the final period.

"Yeah, the one where I almost fell, yea, we went off the tackle, behind Jeff Linkenbach, he made a great block," Goebel said. "I think it might have been Dominick Goodman running the route, the DB was locked on, and basically it was an automatic touchdown. I tripped over the famous invisible man. But I'm happy we got in, on the play after that."

Cincinnati had a chance to ice the game with less than two minutes left, but Jake Rogers missed his third field goal of the game. Rogers has missed four straight after making 13 in a row.

Louisville's Hunter Cantwell threw four consecutive incomplete passes and the Cardinals turned the ball over on downs.

"We need to get going in the right direction," Cantwell said after the Cardinals lost their third straight game. "We gotta get ready to beat WVU and that is the only thought in our heads. ... We have to stick together. We can't listen to what people are saying and get ready to beat WVU."

Kragthorpe is looking to steady a shaky ship.

"I'll take all of the blame for what has happened over the course of the last year and a half," the Cardinals' coach said. "I'll take the blame for what happened tonight. The players just have to stay positive and keep grinding. They've got to keep battling. I take full responsibility for what's happened, so don't blame the players, blame me."

Kelly, meanwhile, loves the resiliency of his team.

"Once again we have to go back to the drawing board at the quarterback position," Kelly said. "Tony Pike was injured, Dustin Grutza came out and limped his way to a huge drive, that set up the eventual score, it was kind of a magical situation for those that have followed in our trials and tribulations this year."