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Backup QB’s rally falls short

UC suffers first Big East loss after losing starter Collaros to a knee injury.

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By Joe Kay, The Associated Press 12:33 AM Sunday, November 13, 2011

CINCINNATI — The only good news for No. 23 University of Cincinnati football team after its first conference loss: The Bearcats still were atop the Big East.

No longer in total control, though — and there’s suddenly a lot of doubt with senior quarterback Zach Collaros on crutches.

Collaros was knocked out of the game in the second quarter by a severe ankle injury, and West Virginia rallied for a 24-21 victory Saturday that turned the Big East into a wide-open race.

“We feel confident,” running back Isaiah Pead said. “We’ve still got confidence. It’s a little, minor setback. We can’t sit in self-pity. We’ve got three more games to play. We’re still ahead in the race.”

The Bearcats (7-2, 3-1 Big East) could have pulled into a commanding lead. Instead, they wound up trying to overcome the loss of their senior quarterback, and nearly succeeding.

Munchie Legaux led a pair of second-half touchdown drives for a 21-17 lead. The Mountaineers pulled back ahead behind Geno Smith’s passing, and the Bearcats’ chance to tie it on Tony Miliano’s 32-yard field-goal attempt in the closing seconds was blocked.

“Extremely disappointing loss,” UC head coach Butch Jones said. “It stings a little bit. We suffered about every adversity you can suffer in every single facet of the football game. But we kept fighting, and it came down to the last play.”

A loss would have knocked West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) out of the title chase, making Cincinnati’s path a little easier. Instead, the Bearcats left a lot of drama for its closing games, some of which they may have to play without Collaros.

The senior hurt his right ankle in the second quarter on a play that changed everything. He watched the rest of the game on crutches from the sideline with his right foot and ankle heavily wrapped. He was expected to get more tests today.

When he was carted off, the signal calling fell to an untested sophomore. Legaux had thrown only seven passes all season.

“I said, ‘You might have to finish this game off and be the hero,’ ” Pead said.

Legaux almost pulled it off.

He got the 48,152 fans at Paul Brown Stadium chanting his first name when he led the Bearcats to a pair of touchdowns for a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Legaux ran 7 yards for a score, and Pead went 10 yards for his second touchdown.

A late drive led by Smith and West Virginia’s first blocked field goal since 2004 prevented Legaux from becoming a sensation.

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