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MORGANTOWN, West Virginia - West Virginia's perfect
season may be over, but not its chances for a Bowl Championship
Series bid. The 10th-ranked Mountaineers try to respond from a disappointing
defeat Saturday when they host Big East Conference rival
Cincinnati. Last Thursday, West Virginia moved the ball at will but could
not stop Louisville in a 44-34 road setback in a battle of Big
East unbeatens. Pat White ran for 125 yards and four touchdowns and Steve Slaton
rushed for 156 yards and a score for the Mountaineers (7-1, 2-1
Big East), who trailed by just 16-14 early in the third quarter
before allowing the Cardinals to score on a 13-yard fumble
return and a 40-yard punt return. West Virginia never was able
to threaten Louisville thereafter. The Mountaineers rank second in the country in rushing at 318.88
yards per game. Slaton also is second in the individual
rushing category, gaining 151.88 yards per contest. Cincinnati (5-4, 2-2) has won four of its last five games,
including a 17-3 home triumph over Syracuse last Saturday. The Bearcats held just a 10-3 lead against the lowly Orange
before Dustin Grutza connected on a 37-yard TD pass to Derrick
Stewart early in the fourth quarter. Slaton ran for 129 yards and four TDs in a 38-0 win at
Cincinnati last year. The Bearcats won the last meeting in
Morgantown, a 15-13 triumph in 2003.
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