Cincinnati 20, Central Michigan 14
Weather – Coudy, 33 degrees
Cincinnati held off a late surge by Central Michigan as Drew Frey knocked away a long pass from Dan LeFevour on 4th down inside the UC 5 yard line that wraqpped up this first round NCAA playoff game in Cincinnati. Tony Pike managed an efficient if unspectacular game for the Bearcats, passing for 212 yards and 1 TD and 1 interception. Mardy Gilyard was the leading recipient of those passes with 4 catches for 58 yards, while Isaiash Pead had a 38 yard touchdown catch from Pike in the 2nd quarter that gave Cincinnati a 20-7 lead early in the 3rd quarter.
Central Michigan did not go away quietly, having two opportunities inside the Bearcats territory only to be stopped on 4th down with a failed fake punt from the UC 31 yard line at the end of the 3rd quarter, as well as the incomplete pass in the final minute of the game.
D.J. Woods had an 80 yard punt return for a TD to open the scoring for Cincinnati, while Central Michigan opened with a pair of 3 and out possessions. Cincinnati had a 33 yard field goal bounce off the right upright that would have given them a 10-0 lead inthe first quarter. But they did make a 40 yard field goal on the next possession to get that 10-0 lead and it seemed like Cincinnati would roll in this one. But on the ensuing drive, LeFevour went to work, leading the Chippewas down the field and ending with a 7 yard touchdown pass to Bryan Anderson. LeFevour ended the game with 239 yards passing and that one touchdown pass, also also was intercepted twice by the Cincinnati defense. It seemed that those turnovers would doom Central Michigan until the third quarter drive resulted in a 7 yard touchdown run by Bryan Schroeder, who had 16 carries for 64 yards. LeFevour, who is also Central Michigan’s leading rusher, tallied only 22 yards rushing on 11 carries in this one.
Cincinnati advanced to the second round, and await Boise State next Friday for the right to get to the final four and a trip to the Sugar or Orange Bowl. Central Michigan awaits their bowl selection to be made later this weekend.