Humanitarian Bowl
1997
Cincinnati 35
Utah State 19
BOISE, Idaho - Midwest muscle whipped West Coast pizazz. That was
pretty much the story as the University of Cincinnati beat Utah State
35-19 in the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl here Monday, before 16,131 fans
at Boise State University's Bronco Stadium.
UC (8-4), led by its power running game, scored its highest point
total in a non-overtime game this year, and manhandled Big West champion
Utah State (6-6). UC rushed for 225 yards, just above its average, while
holding the Aggies to 63 rushing yards.
UC had a staggering edge in time of possession - 42:17 to 17:43 - as
it controlled the line of scrimmage. The Aggies, a pass-happy bunch
which averaged 280 air yards per game, threw for 253 mostly meaningless
yards. UC, which had waited 47 years since its last bowl appearance,
made the most of it by racing to a 21-0 lead by halftime. It was 28-0
and then 35-7 before Utah State made a fruitless rally.
UC junior Chad Plummer was a landslide winner of MVP honors with 179
total offensive yards. Plummer alternated as a quarterback and wide
receiver for the first time this year, rushing for 53 yards and a TD,
throwing for 62 yards and another TD, and catching four passes for 64
yards.
Deontey Kenner, Plummer's freshman backup, passed for 124 yards and a
TD as UC, by design, shuttled quarterbacks. The result was that UC had
its most balanced offense of the year, with 225 rushing yards and 186
passing, the latter being its second-best passing game of the season.
Coach Rick Minter had used postseason practices to work Kenner into the
mix, improve the passing game, and to maintain UC's bread and butter -
the rushing attack which ranked 14th nationally this year.
Utah State was never in it. The Aggies, whose coach John L. Smith
stayed on for this final game before leaving for the Louisville job,
were not used to seeing this brand of power ball in the pass-oriented
Big West.
''We were flat, and our defense was on the field way too much in the
first half,'' Smith said. ''We didn't sustain anything offensively.'' Of
Plummer, Smith said, ''He's an NFL running back.''
Several other UC pro prospects, all seniors, also came through.
Defensive end Derrick Ransom had 1.5 sacks, and Brad Jackson had two of
three UC interceptions. Linebacker Phillip Curry and cornerback Artrell
Hawkins shared the team high with six tackles apiece. Offensively, left
tackle Jason Fabini led the way as usual by frequently caving in the
right side of Utah State's line.
After UC went up 14-0 on a pair of 14-yard TD receptions by junior wideout Cornelius Bonner, the Bearcats' Tinker Keck returned an interception 59 yards to set up the next score. That one, a 1-yard plunge by fullback Landon Smith with 8:30 left in the second quarter, pretty much ended any drama. The Aggies got going late in the third period with two touchdown drives that covered 160 yards in 10 plays. Brent Passey then returned a blocked Cincinnati punt for a touchdown with 13:02 to play to cut the lead to 35-19. But Cincinnati's defense stepped up, and Bearcat linebacker and Jackson's second interception of the day, with 2:01 to play, sealed the win.
As the UC players sang the school fight song at midfield afterward,
as a smiling Minter circled the midfield area while hoisting the
Humanitarian Bowl trophy. ''We haven't reached the pinnacle yet,''
Minter said, ''but this was a major step for this program. Our goals out
here were to win and have a wonderful time, and we did both.''
UC's 8-4 record matches the most wins in the last 20 years. The 1993 team went 8-3. UC improved its record to 3-1 in bowl games. They beat Virginia Tech in the 1947 Sun Bowl, beat Toledo in the 1949 Glass Bowl and lost to West Texas State in the 1951 Sun Bowl.
Brad Jackson had two interceptions
Attendance- 16,131
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
UC- Bonner 16 pass from Plummer (Judge kick)
Second Quarter
UC- Bonner 14 pass from Kenner (Judge kick)
UC- L.Smith 1 run (Judge kick)
Third Quarter
UC- Plummer 15 run (Judge kick)
USU- S.Smith 75 pass from Sauk (Bohn kick)
UC- O.Smith 7 run (Judge kick)
USU- Blue 3 run (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
USU- Passey 10 blocked punt return (pass failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
UC- O.Smith 15-78, Plummer 15-53, Cooper 17-47, L.Smith 7-32, Royal 9-24
USU- Brown 12-56, S.Smith 2-11
Passing
UC- Kenner 10-16-124, Plummer 5-9-62
USU- Sauk 12-30-253
Receiving
UC- Bonner 4-48, Collins-Baker 4-36, Plummer 4-64, Monroe 2-26, Royal
1-12
USU- S.Smith 4-136, Jenkins 4-80, Brown 3-29
