BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

UC coach Rick Minter shows off the winners trophy. (Idaho Statesman photo) | ZOOM |

BOISE, Idaho - Midwest muscle whipped West Coast pizazz.

That was pretty much the story as the University of Cincinnati beat Utah State 35-19 in the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl here Monday, before 16,131 fans at Boise State University's Bronco Stadium.

UC (8-4), led by its power running game, scored its highest point total in a non-overtime game this year, and manhandled Big West champion Utah State (6-6). UC rushed for 225 yards, just above its average, while holding the Aggies to 63 rushing yards.

UC had a staggering edge in time of possession - 42:17 to 17:43 - as it controlled the line of scrimmage. The Aggies, a pass-happy bunch which averaged 280 air yards per game, threw for 253 mostly meaningless yards.

''We knew all week we were the more physical team,'' said UC linebacker Brad Jackson. ''I don't think that team had seen the type of athletes we had.''

UC, which had waited 47 years since its last bowl appearance, made the most of it by racing to a 21-0 lead by halftime. It was 28-0 and then 35-7 before Utah State made a fruitless rally.

Cornelius Bonner makes the first of his two TD catches. (Idaho Statesman photo) | ZOOM |

UC junior Chad Plummer was a landslide winner of MVP honors with 179 total offensive yards. Plummer alternated as a quarterback and wide receiver for the first time this year, rushing for 53 yards and a TD, throwing for 62 yards and another TD, and catching four passes for 64 yards.

Deontey Kenner, Plummer's freshman backup, passed for 124 yards and a TD as UC, by design, shuttled quarterbacks.

The result was that UC had its most balanced offense of the year, with 225 rushing yards and 186 passing, the latter being its second-best passing game of the season.

Coach Rick Minter had used postseason practices to work Kenner into the mix, improve the passing game, and to maintain UC's bread and butter - the rushing attack which ranked 14th nationally this year.

Wearing a cheesehead, UC fan Louis Aspen cheers the Bearcats. (Idaho Statesman photo) | ZOOM |

''Being physical and running the way we do allows you to set the tone and dominate,'' Minter said. ''We want to come closer to being a balanced offense, and we did today.''

Utah State was never in it. The Aggies, whose coach John L. Smith stayed on for this final game before leaving for the Louisville job, were not used to seeing this brand of power ball in the pass-oriented Big West.

''We were flat, and our defense was on the field way too much in the first half,'' Smith said. ''We didn't sustain anything offensively.'' Of Plummer, Smith said, ''He's an NFL running back.''

Several other UC pro prospects, all seniors, also came through.

Defensive end Derrick Ransom had 1.5 sacks, and Jackson had two of three UC interceptions. Linebacker Phillip Curry and cornerback Artrell Hawkins shared the team high with six tackles apiece.

After the game, Rick Minter leads players in a victory cheer. (Idaho Statesman photo) | ZOOM |

Offensively, left tackle Jason Fabini led the way as usual by frequently caving in the right side of Utah State's line.

After UC went up 14-0 on a pair of 14-yard TD receptions by junior wideout Cornelius Bonner, the Bearcats' Tinker Keck returned an interception 59 yards to set up the next score. That one, a 1-yard plunge by fullback Landon Smith with 8:30 left in the second quarter, pretty much ended any drama.

That did not dampen UC's celebration, however. The players sang the school fight song at midfield afterward, as a smiling Minter circled the midfield area while hoisting the Humanitarian Bowl trophy.

''We haven't reached the pinnacle yet,'' Minter said, ''but this was a major step for this program. Our goals out here were to win and have a wonderful time, and we did both.''

QB rotation could stick in '98 Dec. 30, 1997
Jackson's 2-INT day makes travel worthwhile Dec. 30, 1997

Cincinnati  7  14  14  0 - 35
Utah St.    0   0  13  6 - 19

First Quarter

Cin-Bonner 16 pass from Plummer (Judge kick), 4:03.

Second Quarter

Cin-Bonner 14 pass from Kenner (Judge kick), 14:12.

Cin-L.Smith 1 run (Judge kick), 8:30.

Third Quarter

Cin-Plummer 15 run (Judge kick), 8:39.

USU-S.Smith 75 pass from Sauk (Bohn kick), 7:31.

Cin-O.Smith 7 run (Judge kick), 2:28.

USU-Blue 3 run (kick failed), 0:29.

Fourth Quarter

USU-Passey 10 blocked punt return (pass failed), 14:18

A-16,131.

                     UC      USU
First downs          23       15
Rushes-yards     65-225    20-63
Passing             186      253
Comp-Att-Int    15-25-0  12-30-3
Return Yards        129       26
Punts-Avg.       5-36.8   6-32.3
Fumbles-Lost        2-1      1-1
Penalties-Yards    7-84     3-13
Possession        42:17    17:43

RUSHING-Cincinnati, O.Smith 15-78, Plummer 15-53, Cooper 17-47, L.Smith 7-32, Royal 9-24, Ison 1-1, Johnson 1-(minus 10). Utah St., Brown 12-56, S.Smith 2-11, Blue 2-6, Sauk 4-(minus 10).

PASSING-Cincinnati, Kenner 10-16-0-124, Plummer 5-9-0-62. Utah St., Sauk 12-30-3-253.

RECEIVING-Cincinnati, Bonner 4-48, Collins-Baker 4-36, Plummer 4-64, Monroe 2-26, Royal 1-12. Utah St., S.Smith 4-136, Jenkins 4-80, Brown 3-29, Damuni 1-8.

QB rotation could stick in '98 Dec. 30, 1997
Jackson's 2-INT day makes travel worthwhile Dec. 30, 1997