It's been a combination of errors--lack of big plays on offense, lack of big plays on defense, penalties. There's even a couple of new intangibles rearing their ugly head that did not show up last week--three sacks allowed and a pair of turnovers. The result is a 17-0 Cincinnati lead over Pitt at the half.
Cincinnati wasted little time, as running back George Winn burst up the middle, and was not touched, on his way to a 58-yard touchdown run. David Abernethy caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, following a Tino Sunseri fumble off a sack on the next Bearcat possession.
Twice, Pitt got in the red zone in the second quarter. A holding penalty waived off a 6-yard touchdown run by Ray Graham, which would have made it a 14-7 deficit at the time. Unfortunately, Greg Blair picked off Sunseri in the end zone two plays later.
Cincinnati kicker Tony Miliano added a 39-yard field goal late in the second quarter. Though Pitt marched as far as the Cincinnati 2--73 yards in 12 plays--they failed to score again, attempting one more offensive play with five seconds left in the half, instead of kicking a field goal. Ironically, Sunseri's incompletion sailed through the uprights.
Bearcat quarterback Munchie Legaux has completed 8-of-16 passes for 107 yards with a touchdown pass. He's also carried the ball 4 times for 33 yards. Bearcat running back George Winn leads all rushers with 63 yards on 4 carries.
Sunseri has completed 10-of-18 passes for 128 yards and has been sacked three times. He is responsible for both of Pitt's turnovers--a fumble and an interception.
Ray Graham leads Pitt with 49 yards on 15 carries--one more carry than he took the entire game last week. Freshman Rushel Shell has carried the ball six times for 31 yards, including a 12-yard gain on his first collegiate carry. Isaac Bennett is Pitt's leading receiver--3 catches for 29 yards.