Ray Jackson dives for a TD. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        The University of Cincinnati unclogged its offensive engine Saturday, scoring six touchdowns to surprise Houston 48-31 and assert its postseason ambitions.

        The 3-3 Bearcats, who had lost three straight and had shown a shocking inability to penetrate the goal line, played like a team possessed the first quarter, almost gave away the game late in the second quarter, then went on a three-touchdown binge in the third and early fourth quarters to go up 45-24.

        “We were in a similar situation with our season last year and went the other way: 3-8,” said UC middle linebacker Eddie Johnson, who had five tackles and a 29-yard interception runback. “We didn't want to have that happen again.”

        The game proved to be a much bigger character check than UC's 21-point lead early in the fourth quarter showed. The Bearcats were up 17-0 midway through the first quarter. The offensive line was blowing open big holes for running back Ray Jackson, and quarterback Adam Hoover was making pinpoint throws.

        But then, with a 24-3 lead, Hoover misread the defense, throwing an interception that ultimately led to a touchdown (24-10), and receiver Jon Olinger fumbled a reception that led to another Houston score (24-17).

DeJuan Gossett can't stop a Houston TD. | ZOOM |

        “We had to pump our guys up at halftime,” Minter said. “I walked in there and said, "What is this, a morgue? We have a seven-point lead! Let's keep going after it.'”

        What transpired early in the second half, however, did more to fortify UC's fragile psyche and then-tenuous bowl aspirations.

        On Houston's first play from scrimmage in the second half, Houston QB Jason McKinley, 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, lofted a pass to Stephen Cucci, who was called for a pushing-off penalty on DeJuan Gossett. UC's defense forced a three-and-out punt, and all 17,643 fans had to be wondering the same thing.

        Are we going to see anoth er inside handoff to a UC running back from shotgun formation, or is this team going to do something bold and try to win a game and salvage a season?

        It didn't take long to find out.

        After a 1-yard pickup by Jackson, Hoover faked a handoff on second-and-9, then lofted a high, 55-yard spiral from deep in the pocket.

        There was only player on the field who had a shot at it. That was UC wideout Tye Keith, running a post pattern from the left side.

        “I didn't know if Tye was going to catch up to it or not,” Minter said.

        Keith, a 5-8, 181-pound sophomore, was in an all-out sprint for the football ... and probably UC's season. He dove for the ball.

        He caught it at the 1.

        It was a 46-yard completion, and although other things would happen later in the game to ultimately decide it — an inspired roll-right and throwback left to run ning back DeMarco McCleskey for a TD, and some excellent third- and fourth-down stops by the defense — it was the bomb that changed the momentum.

        “The guys on the sideline kidded me later about why I went to the ground instead of scoring,” Keith said, “but the ground is where I was going to end up if I was going to catch up to that ball.”

        Hoover termed the play a “great call.” It caught Houston by surprise, because Hoover had taken the snap from under center, rather than from the shotgun.

        “When you're going to run it 52 times, run-action has to be a big part of what you do,” Minter said. “And it happens to be what Adam does real well.”

        Houston fell to 2-4, 1-1 in C-USA. UC is 2-1 in C-USA.

        Minter has talked all season long about the need for the offense to make big plays, but until Saturday such big plays were few and far between. Nothing better symbolized UC's precarious future than Hoover's bomb as it approached earth.

        Houston ....... 3 14 7 7—31

        Cincinnati ....... 17 7 14 10—48

        First Quarter

        CIN—Jackson 7 run (Ruffin kick), 12:50.

        CIN—McCleskey 10 run (Ruffin kick), 11:07.

        CIN—FG Ruffin 27, 7:21.

        HOU—FG Clark 27, 4:51.

        Second Quarter

        CIN—Chatman 33 pass from Hoover (Ruffin kick), 11:50.

        HOU—Reynolds 8 run (Clark kick), 3:32.

        HOU—Cucci 2 pass from McKinley (Clark kick), 1:01.

        Third Quarter

        CIN—Jackson 1 run (Ruffin kick), 11:34.

        HOU—Penn 5 run (Clark kick), 6:12.

        CIN—McCleskey 27 pass from Hoover (Ruffin kick), 3:27.

        Fourth Quarter

        CIN—Jackson 27 run (Ruffin kick), 13:11.

        HOU—McKinley 1 run (Clark kick), 6:00.

        CIN—FG Ruffin 39, 4:12.

        A—17,643.

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

        RUSHING—Houston, Reynolds 10-39, Penn 8-22, Hill 2-9, McKinley 7-4, Teague 2-3. Cincinnati, Jackson 23-140, Spencer 11-58, Garden 3-34, McCleskey 8-27, Wize 1-4, Hoover 6-(minus 1).

        PASSING—Houston, McKinley 30-40-1-330, Teague 1-4-0-(minus 4). Cincinnati, Hoover 15-25-2-268.

        RECEIVING—Houston, Robinson 12-147, Bell 7-76, Williams 4-28, Reynolds 3-59, Cucci 3-16, Penn 1-0, Francis 1-0. Cincinnati, Keith 5-112, Chatman 4-72, McCleskey 2-33, Olinger 2-17, Drewrey 1-19, Smikle 1-15.

UC basketball preview UC Midnight Madness schedule UC 48, Houston 31 Turnovers don't spoil Bearcats' day

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