Cincinnati receiver Armond Binns, left, catches a 41-yard touchdown pass against Connecticut safety Robert McClain (42) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)
(AP)
Zach Collaros kept No. 4 Cincinnati unbeaten with the second-best passing performance in school history, one that will make it tough to send him back to the bench.
The Bearcats' near-perfect replacement threw for 480 yards and a touchdown Saturday night, ran for two more scores and led a clinching touchdown drive in the closing minutes of a wild 47-45 victory over Connecticut that let Cincinnati match the best start in its history.
Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0 Big East) is off to its best start since 1951, when it won the Mid-American Conference title. The stakes are much higher this time — the Bearcats are keeping themselves in the conversation about national title contenders. The win over Connecticut (4-5, 1-4) provided more talking points.
The best one: Where would Cincinnati be without Collaros?
The sophomore has come of age, taking big steps in each of his three fill-in starts for the injured Tony Pike. His eye-opening numbers in his first three collegiate starts: 70 of 89 for 1,100 yards with eight passing touchdowns.
In the first three quarters alone on Saturday, he threw for 447 yards, topping everyone except Greg Cook's 554-yard passing game in the school record book. His best work came after Cincinnati let most of a 20-point lead slip away, forcing the Bearcats to grind it out down the stretch.
Collaros went 4 for 4 for 33 yards on the final drive, completed by Isaiah Pead's 14-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with 1:52 left that made it 47-38. Cincinnati finished with a school-record 711 yards on offense.
Zach Frazer threw a 9-yard touchdown pass with 13 seconds left that cut it to 47-45, and Cincinnati recovered the onside kick to finish it off. Frazer was 19 of 32 for 261 yards.
Pike had to have a plate in his non-throwing forearm replaced after it was damaged in a win over South Florida on Oct. 15. He got a special splint that allowed him to practice better this week, and suited up for the game. Pike could be ready to play on Friday night against West Virginia.
