CFI: THE BIG EAST REPORT

BY CHRISTOPHER MOGOLLON
BIG EAST INSIDER

THURSDAY NIGHT SCARE
Pat White's 50-yard touchdown run kept his team alive for a BCS game and himself alive in the race for the Heisman. After jumping out to an early lead, White's fumbles propelled Brian Brohm and Louisville to an erase a 17-point deficit and tie the game late in the fourth quarter. White started off sharp, throwing both his touchdown passes in the first quarter in crucial red zone opportunities. He finished with 181 yards passing and despite the fumbles White was excellent on the ground rushing for 147 yards. Steve Slaton was held in check finishing with only 60 yards rushing. Darius Reynaud caught six balls for a total of 79 yards including both first quarter touchdowns. Brohm finished the game throwing for 345 yards and two touchdown passes. He hooked up with Harry Douglas seven times for 98 yards and Mario Urrutia three times for 54 yards, including a touchdown. Gary Stripling didn't do much running the football but he led the team with eight receptions for 105 yards, and was a key contributor in setting up scores. Even though West Virginia allowed 345 passing yards, they did force four key turnovers. Senior defensive backs Eric Wicks and Antonio Lewis intercepted two of Brohm's passes to help give West Virginia a 38-31 win.

THE MAUK SHOW
It seems each Big East Cinderella loses their slipper every week, first it was South Florida and now it's the Huskies who fell as the victim. Cincinnati is one more Connecticut loss from controlling their own destiny to a BIG EAST title and a BCS bowl game. The Bearcats dominated this game and never gave the Huskies a chance. Ben Mauk was awesome throwing for three touchdowns and running for one. He finished the game with a total of 288 yards and contributed to every score in the 27-3 win. Dominick Goodman had his third 100-yard game putting up 127 yards on eight catches including a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the game away. The defense was dominant, holding the Huskies to a total of 22 rushing yards, their lowest total all year. Sophomore Andre Dixon was held to only 35 yards on 12 carries. D-lineman Adam Hoppel returned a huge interception inside Connecticut territory to set up a score.

BLOWOUT CITY
South Florida came into the Carrier Dome focused and won in blowout fashion 41-10 on parents weekend. Matt Grothe had a bounce back game throwing for 181 yards and two touchdowns, taking advantage of a slow defense rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown rushing. Overall the ground game of the Bulls could not be stopped. Freshman Mike Ford used his speed and strength to rush for a career high 134 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow freshman back Aston Samuels rushed for 101 yards on just two carries, his 75 yard run setup a Bulls score. Meanwhile the Syracuse running game was dreadful finishing with a total of 15 yards, embarrassing. The game started with a fumble by Max Suter and the Bulls never looked back. In Cameron Dantley's first career start, he threw for 276 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Mike Williams shined in the loss catching eight balls for 99 yards including the team’s only touchdown.

Army was no match for a Rutgers team desperate for a win. Ray Rice finished the game with 243 yards, a school record, and two touchdowns. This is Rice's fifth 100- yard performance in a row and seventh of the year, which is also a school record. The Knights were all about running the football, as they finished with a total of three completed passes for 42 yards. Freshman Mason Robinson rushed for a career high 82 yards. It did not help Army that they turned the ball over five times.

Photo Credit: WVU Sports Communications