Big East Football Week #10 Recap

The Big East Week #10 recap is below. After you review what happened this past weekend and check out the 2008 Big East football standings, be sure to take a look at our Big East Power Rankings!

Cincinnati 24 - South Florida 10:

Quarterback Tony Pike- playing with a broken non-throwing arm- threw for two touchdowns and 281 yards, as Cincinnati won at home and all but ended South Florida’s Big East title dreams.

The junior connected with Mardy Gilyard in the second quarter and Connor Barwin early in the fourth- for what proved to be the game clinching touchdown. The Bulls had several opportunities late in the game, but turned the ball over on downs on their last two scoring drives, sealing the Cincinnati win.

South Florida’s quest for a conference championship is all but over- after losing their third out of four games. The Bearcats improved to 6-2 and 2-1 in the Big East. They travel to West Virginia this Saturday.

West Virginia 35 - Connecticut 13:

Jock Sanders rushed for three touchdowns and Pat White ran for two more, as West Virginia continued its dominance of the Huskies- beating them for the fifth time since UConn joined the Big East.

Connecticut actually led 13-7 at the half, and had an opportunity to add points early after intermission. On their first series of the second half, Cody Endres slightly overthrew wide receiver Kashif Moore for an incomplete pass which would have put the Huskies up 20-7. After a false start penalty and another incomplete pass, the Huskies were forced to punt, and never threatened to score again. The Mountaineers outscored the Huskies 28-0 from that point on.

UConn is idle this week before traveling to Syracuse on Nov. 15. The Mountaineers meanwhile, go back to the cozy confines of Milar-Puskar Stadium, as they face the Cincinnati Bearcats on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be shown live on ESPNU.

> Check out our recap of WVU over UConn from our West Virginia Sports Correspondent!

Pittsburgh 36 - Notre Dame 33 (4 OT):

LeSean McCoy rushed for 169 yards, kicker Connor Lee made five field goals, and Pittsburgh overcame deficits at halftime, and in the third and fourth quarters to beat Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

Trailing 17-3 at intermission, the Panthers outscored the Irish 21-7 in the second half to force overtime. McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling each rushed for a touchdown, while quarterback Pat Bostick- replacing injured starter Bill Stull- threw a 10 yard scoring pass to Jonathan Baldwin to force overtime.

In the first three overtimes, Lee traded field goals with Notre Dame kicker Brandon Walker- as neither team could get into the end zone. In the fourth overtime however, Walker missed a 38-yard attempt, and Lee converted a 22-yarder to seal the victory.

For the Panthers it was a sweet win, just one week after being embarrassed at home by Rutgers. They will travel back to the Steel City this weekend to face the Louisville Cardinals- a team they have yet to beat since Louisville joined the Big East during the 2005 season. The game will be a noon kickoff and can be seen on ESPN Gameplan.

> Gear up for the 2008 season with Big East football apparel & merchandise through Big East Fans!

Syracuse 28 - Louisville 21:

Curtis Brinkley became the first Syracuse running back ever to rush for over 100 yards in five straight games, as the Orange beat Louisville at home, shocking the Cardinals for the second straight year.

The senior running back rushed for a career high 166 yards, and quarterback Cam Dantley added two touchdown passes, as Syracuse won its first game against an FBS opponent this season.

With the Orange leading after three quarters, each team traded a mid fourth quarter scoring drive. Louisville had a chance late to tie it, but quarterback Hunter Cantwell was intercepted with under a minute to go to seal the Syracuse win.

Each team hits the road this weekend- as Syracuse travels to Rutgers, and Louisville goes to Pittsburgh.

By Aaron Torres
BigEast-fans.com Staff Writer

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