Cincinnati Game Notes and Quotes
2004 Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. Cincinnati
September 18, 2004
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Cincinnati Notes
Cincinnati got on the scoreboard for the first time with 13:41 remaining in the fourth quarter when quarterback Gino Guidugli threw a two-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Brent Celek. It was Celek’s first career touchdown reception. It was Guidugli’s third touchdown pass of the season and 55th of his career.
Guidugli finished the game with 11 completions on 21 attempts, 93 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. His longest pass of the day was a 42-yarder to Celek at the 12:30 mark of the third quarter. Guidugli’s three interceptions today is the most he has thrown in a game since he threw five vs. North Texas in the 2002 New Orleans Bowl.
Senior strong safety Doug Monaghan had two interceptions, improving his career total to eight. He is now tied for ninth on the Cincinnati career interceptions list with three other players. Monaghan is the first Bearcat to record two interceptions in a game since Gerry Ruff did it vs. Southern Miss (Nov. 18, 2000).
Junior defensive tackle Adam Roberts, a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., recorded a sack and blocked a field goal in his first return back to his home state.
Running back Richard Hall was Cincinnati’s leading rusher with 56 yards on 14 carries.
Freshman running back Butler Benton rushed for a career-high 46 yards on eight carries.
Wide receiver Hannibal Thomas rushed for a career-long 14 yards in the first quarter.
Sophomore free safety Dominic Ross made his first fumble return of the season for 30 yards to the Syracuse 5-yard line in the third quarter.
Sophomore kicker Kevin Lovell scored the PAT after the Bearcat touchdown in the fourth quarter.
2004 Syracuse Football
Syracuse vs. Cincinnati
September 18, 2004
Carrier Dome – Syracuse, N.Y.
Post-Game Quotes
Cincinnati Coach Mark Dantonio:
“You’re not going to win when you turn the ball over six times and have a punt blocked. We didn’t have any explosive plays like Syracuse did. Of course we came up with two interceptions and a fumble recovery ourselves, so obviously there was some action out there today.”
“I can’t explain the turnovers – you never can, but there were a couple of tips, a couple of cases in which they penetrated and some poor decisions, along with the fumbles. You’re just not going to win playing like that.”
“They ran more counters than we had seen in their previous games, although we settled down a bit in the second half. You have to give Reyes credit. He came back today. He is so tough to play on this turf, as he is just outstanding in his cutbacks. I saw him play last year and he is an outstanding back.”
Cincinnati tight end Brent Celek on his touchdown reception:
“Well, I kind of feel like I was getting held on that play. Gino placed the ball in the right spot and I was lucky enough to get a hand on it, get it on the ball, and make a catch.”
More from Brent Celek:
“Defensively, they were pretty much doing the same thing they did against Purdue, but we were just making too many mistakes on offense. When you make mistakes and turn the ball over that many times, you’re not going to win.”
“I believe they were a little more physical than Miami, but if we didn’t make mistakes, we would have come out with the win easily.”
“It was a little different playing in the Dome. I liked it a little more. I felt a little faster on the turf, but getting turf burn is not so fun.”
Senior strong safety Doug Monaghan:
“I thought it was a physical game. I think there were some unforced mistakes that happened, but I thought both defenses played really well. Turnovers are going to be the difference.”
Monaghan on Walter Reyes:
“He’s a good running back. He’s going to have a good game. He’s going to run for his 100 yards and he did. I’m sure he did.”
More from Monaghan:
“We thought we were playing well defensively. Offensively, we knew we had to pick it up a little bit. We knew defensively we would have to cause more turnovers so our offense could get on the field in good field position.”
Monaghan on what happened when Syracuse scored right after Cincinnati’s touchdown:
“We had a blown coverage, unfortunately. They came in early in the game running a few trick plays and tried to do that reverse pass. That was kind of a misleading play when they scored that touchdown.”
“I was standing there saying, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ That was a heartbreaker to me.”
Quarterback Gino Guidugil:
“One ball got tipped and picked off, one got intercepted. The post I threw in the redzone, I took a chance and it didn’t work out for me. I probably should have checked the ball down, but I felt like I could get it to George, but I couldn’t. The other interception was a combination of a bad route, bad read.”
“My offensive line has done a great job all year.”
“We played as bad as possible and we were still in the game at the end, so that’s one of the positive things we can take out of this.”
“I thought the defense played tough all game and gave us a chance to be in the game, even with all the mistakes.”
