Anthony Thomas and Willis Edwards (Moeller High) are among the reasons why the University of Cincinnati Bearcats have been able to overcome a major run of injuries.

UC at LOUISVILLE

• Records: Cincinnati (3-3, 2-1 in C-USA) vs. Louisville (4-1, 1-0)   • When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday   • Where: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (42,000), Louisville   • The series: UC leads, 25-13-1   • TV: Fox Sports Net   • Radio: WLW-AM (700)

        Besides the obvious absence the past 2 1/2 games — quarterback Deontey Kenner (who will start Saturday at Louisville) — the Bearcats have gone multiple games without such stalwarts as middle linebacker Eddie Johnson, running back DeMarco McCleskey, tight end Ashley Hunt, strong safety Freddy Smith (Princeton High), cornerback Ivan Fields, and offensive lineman Mike Love.

        Not to mention offensive linemen Andy Weinheimer (Loveland High) and Kirt Doolin (Covington Catholic), who were limited to extra-point team duty last week, and defensive linemen Mario Monds and wideout Tony Smikle, who have each missed a game.

        In the secondary, the absence of Fields and the less-than-100%-presence of Blue Adams has created some opportunities for Thomas and LaVar Glover.

        “Against Houston, A.T. played over 60 snaps and "Glove' over 55,” Minter said. “They both had good days. A.T. loves to play and has a great work ethic. Not only is he a starter, but he's on three or four special teams.”

        Glover and Thomas each have excellent speed: 4.42 and 4.43, respectively, in the 40.

        Early in last week's game, with UC leading 7-0, Houston made a big runback on UC's kickoff, but Thomas stripped the ball from behind and Gerry Ruff recovered it. UC converted it into a TD.

        At linebacker, Edwards has also capitalized on his opportunities.

        Early in the year, when middle 'backer Johnson missed three games, Edwards stepped in (9 tackles and an interception in the upset of Syracuse) and has re mained in the mix.

        “Right now, we're (rotating) six linebackers,” Minter said. “I'd like to balance up Willis and Lewis Carter a little bit more. Eddie and Troy (Evans) played about 55 plays each. Willis and Lewis played in the 12-20 range ... We'll get even more out of Troy and Eddie and our other starters if we roll people in and out.”

        Besides Edwards' “awareness of the game,” Minter likes something else about him that all coaches love in their players.

        Speed.

        At Moeller, Edwards lettered in track four times. He was first-team all-league as a sophomore, with personal bests of 10.9 in the 100 meters and 22.8 in the 200 meters.

        Last Saturday, with UC leading only 38-24 and Houston driving, Edwards stuffed a draw play and then, on second-and-10, unloaded on Cougar QB Jason McKinley that caused him to badly underthrow a pass. That set up a third-and-8 that Derrick Adams and Darryll Ransom turned into a sack-and-dance to fire up the Bearcats and lead to the TD that finally put away the Cougars.

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