College Football
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Cincinnati 30, Syracuse 13
When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 26, 2011
Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York
Temperature: Dome
Head Official: Dennis Hennigan
Attendance: 38159

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.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Cincinnati   Syracuse
Isaiah Pead Player Antwon Bailey
17 Attempts 27
80 Yards 135
4.7 Avg Yards 5.0
1 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Receiving
Cincinnati   Syracuse
Isaiah Pead Player Van Chew
9 Receptions 6
112 Yards 77
12.4 Avg Yards 12.8
1 Touchdowns 0
0 Long 0
Team Stats Summary
 
  Yards Scoring Defense
Team Tot Rus Pas TD FG INT Sck FF
Cincinnati 368 189 179 3 3 1 4.0 2
Syracuse 373 170 203 1 2 0 0.0 0