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Cincy On Verge Of Title

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

CINCINNATI - The quarterback with the broken arm led No. 19 Cincinnati to the threshold of its first Big East championship.

Tony Pike threw three touchdown passes, each to a different receiver, and the Bearcats took control of the conference by beating 20th-ranked Pittsburgh 28-21 on Saturday night, their first win in eight games against the Panthers (7-3, 3-2 Big East).

It was the pinnacle of a season in which the Bearcats (9-2, 5-1) went through four quarterbacks because of injury. For Pike, a junior playing with a broken left (non-passing) forearm, it was the best yet.

He matched his career high for touchdown passes and ran Cincinnati's no-huddle, spread offense almost flawlessly against the conference's best road team. Pike completed a career-high 26 passes in 32 attempts for 309 yards.

His steadiness put Cincinnati in position to clinch the Big East title with a victory at home next Saturday over 3-8 Syracuse.

WEST VIRGINIA 35,

LOUISVILLE 21

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - West Virginia's Pat White broke the NCAA record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback in leading the Mountaineers to a win against Louisville.

White ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns to give him 4,292 yards for his career, breaking the record of 4,289 set by former Missouri quarterback Brad Smith between 2002-05.
Noel Devine added 154 yards rushing for West Virginia (7-3, 4-1 Big East), which ran for 376 yards while averaging nearly 10 yards a carry to send Louisville (5-6, 1-5) to its fourth straight loss.

The rushing mark wasn't the only record White took down Saturday. He added two passing touchdowns to bring his career total for touchdowns accounted for to 98, eclipsing the Big East record of 96 held by former Syracuse quarterback Donovan McNabb.

RUTGERS 30, ARMY 3

PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Mike Teel threw for 359 yards and once-downtrodden Rutgers became bowl eligible by beating Army for its fifth straight win.

Safety Joe Lefeged returned a fumble 58 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play from scrimmage and Kenny Britt caught 10 passes for a career-best 197 yards as the Scarlet Knights (6-5) continued a remarkable turnaround following a 1-5 start.

Rutgers held Army (3-8) to a season-low 219 yards in total offense, including 2 yards passing on two completions.

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