Big East Football Week #9 Recap

The Big East Week #9 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!

West Virginia 34 - Auburn 17:

Noel Devine rushed for a career high 207 yards, as the Mountaineers scored the last 31 points of this game, defeating Auburn at home 34-17.

Quarterback Pat White- returning after missing West Virginia’s last game- threw three touchdowns and Devine added the final score, as the Mountaineers won their fourth straight game, all at home.

Auburn quarterback Kodi Burns threw for a touchdown and ran for another, as the Tigers jumped out to a 17-3 halftime lead. But they could muster only 33 second half yards, as the Mountaineers moved the ball at will, scoring 24 unanswered second half points. This was Auburn’s third straight defeat, the first time the Tigers have lost three in a row since 1999.

The Mountaineers, who improved to 5-2 on the year, have another tough test this weekend, as they travel to Connecticut to take on the UConn Huskies. Both teams shared the regular season title a season ago, even though West Virginia won handily at home. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN Gameplan.

Connecticut 40 - Cincinnati 16:

Donald Brown rushed for 150 yards, and Cincinnati turned the ball over six times, as UConn won at home by a final score of 40-16. It is the first time the Huskies have defeated Cincinnati since the Bearcats joined the Big East four seasons ago.

Cody Endres- making his first career start at quarterback- was steady, completing 18 passes for 196 yards. However, the story of the day was Cincinnati’s inability to hold onto the football. UConn capitalized by out-scoring the Bearcats 30-3 in the second half, including 20-0 in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati must regroup quickly, as they host South Florida this Thursday at 7:30 p.m. UConn is again at home Saturday- facing the West Virginia Mountaineers at 12:00 p.m.

Louisville 24 - South Florida 20:

Scott Long- who missed Louisville’s first four games with injuries- caught two touchdown passes, and the Cardinals defense intercepted South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe twice, as Louisville beat the Bulls 24-20.

Long caught a touchdown pass of 69 yards in the second quarter, and a 24 yarder in the fourth, as the Cardinals won- improving to 5-2 on the year. The Bulls were hindered all day by penalties- 13 in total- including a hold with 1:19 left in the game that gave Louisville a first down, essentially ending South Florida’s hope for victory.

Both teams hit the road this weekend, as Louisville travels to Syracuse this Saturday to try to avenge their most embarrassing loss from a season ago, while South Florida plays at Cincinnati on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.

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Rutgers 54 - Pittsburgh 34:

Much maligned quarterback Mike Teel threw for six touchdowns- three to junior wide receiver Kenny Britt- as Rutgers shocked Pittsburgh on the road, 54-34.

Homecoming was anything but sweet for the Panthers as they gave up close to 500 yards and eight touchdowns to a team which had scored just two touchdowns in its previous two games. Teel- who had only thrown three touchdowns all season- had his finest day in a Rutgers uniform, completing just 14 passes, but for 361 yards. Kordell Young added two touchdown runs.

It was another frustrating loss for Pittsburgh which fell to 5-2 on the year, and 2-1 in league play. Running back LeSean McCoy was again outstanding, as he rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns in the loss. The status of Panthers quarterback Bill Stull remains uncertain after the junior left the game with a concussion.

Rutgers, which is all of a sudden back in the Big East race, has a week off before hosting Syracuse on Nov. 8. Pittsburgh hits the road this weekend as they step of out Big East play to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. and can be seen on NBC.

By Aaron Torres
BigEast-fans.com Staff Writer

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