(Thursday, December 23rd) Final Score: Cincinnati 32, Marshall 14
Fort Worth, TX (Sports Network) - Gino Guidugli passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns, leading Cincinnati to a 32-14 victory over Marshall in the Fort Worth Bowl.
Guidugli was an efficient 25-of-37 with an interception for Cincinnati (7-5), which improved to 4-4 in bowl games. He earned team MVP honors for the game despite playing with two broken bones in his trowing hand.
"I didn't know what to expect," Guidugli said. "But my receivers stepped up and made some big plays. I came in with a bunch of great guys and I wanted to go out with those great guys. I couldn't stand on the sidelines and watch."
Earnest Jackson and Brent Celek each caught touchdown passes in the win.
The Bearcats held Marshall scoreless for the final three quarters, and their defense blocked two punts in the game. The blocks led to nine points.
Marshall quarterback Stan Hill was 14-of-30 for 137 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He was intercepted once and fumbled once.
The Thundering Herd (6-6), who started this season 0-3 before winning six of their final eight games, fell to 5-3 in bowl games. They had won their last five bowl games.
Cincinnati jumped out to a 7-0 lead when linebacker Derrik Haitchcock returned a blocked Marshall punt 10 yards for a touchdown just 1:00 into the game.
The Bearcats capitalized on another Marshall mistake when they turned a Hill fumble into a 23-yard field goal by Kevin Lovell, taking a 10-0 lead with 6:23 remaining in the first quarter.
But the Thundering Herd took the lead with two touchdowns in a 44-second span.
They pulled within 10-7 on Hill's 14-yard touchdown pass at the 1:00 mark, and went ahead 14-10 when Willie Smith intercepted Guidugli and returned the ball 33 yards for another score with 16 seconds left in the first quarter.
Marshall was behind at the half, though, after a pair of Cincinnati touchdowns in the second quarter.
The Bearcats took a 17-14 lead on Guidugli's 15-yard touchdown pass to Brent Celek with 4:31 remaining. Then, with 18 seconds left in the half, Jackson scored on an eight-yard pass from Dustin Grutza to make it 24-14.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Bearcats extended their lead to 27-14 on Lovell's 19-yard field goal 1:10 into the fourth. They made it 29-14 just over a minute later when defensive end Trent Cole's blocked punt led to a safety.
Lovell kicked a 36-yard field goal at the end of the ensuing possession to give Cincinnati its 32-14 lead with 4:59 remaining.
The Bearcats finished with 399 yards of total offense to Marshall's 134. The Thundering Herd ended with negative-3 rushing yards.
Game Notes
Guidugli and Davis were named co-MVPs...Cincinnati's Hannibal Thomas led all receivers with 102 yards on nine catches...Marshall beat Cincinnati 25-14 in the 2000 Motor City Bowl...Overall, the Thundering Herd and Bearcats have met 10 times, with Cincinnati now holding a 6-3-1 series edge.
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