Bearcats improve to 10-0
UC downs West Virginia 24-21
November 13, 2009, 11:37 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
The University of Cincinnati Bearcats improved to 10-0 for the first time in school history with a 24-21 win against West Virginia on Friday night.
The Bearcats are now 6-0 in Big East play and are winners of 12 in a row at home.
Isaiah Pead ran for a career-high 175 yards, sophomore Zach Collaros threw for 205 yards and Tony Pike threw two touchdown passes in a cameo appearance.
Collaros made his fourth consecutive start for the fifth-ranked Bearcats, but starter Tony Pike entered the game at the end of the Bearcats' first scoring drive, throwing a touchdown strike in his first attempt since his injury earlier in the season against South Florida.
The Bearcats struggled offensively because of a fumble, a missed field goal, and an interception in the first half.
The Mountaineers fell to 7-3 overall, 3-2 in the Big East.
The Bearcats' spread, no-huddle offense, entered the game ranked third nationally with 482.6 yards per game.
On Tuesday, Kelly named Collaros the starter for Friday's game, also saying Pike would get some snaps and that he'll likely start the following game Nov. 27 against Illinois.
The Mountaineers were the last team to win at Nippert Stadium, 28-23 over then-No. 21 Cincinnati on Nov. 17, 2007, when West Virginia was ranked fifth.