CINCINNATI SPORTS LAST WEEK

The Bearcat football team got some lovin' on Monday when they were placed at number 22 in the A/P football rankings. Jake Rogers, their kicker, had been named a Lou Groza finalist last week. Lineman Trevor Canfield, DB Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith, and punter Kevin Huber have all been named to play in the Senior Bowl.

On Tuesday night, the basketball Bearcats played their second preseason game. They handled NKU 73-61 with Deonta Vaughn and Mike Willimas doing most of the scoring.

On Friday night Xavier opened the season against IUPUFW at Cintas Center and squished their smaller foe 71-43. C.J.Anderson scored 15, freshman Kenny Frease had 12 and transfer Jamal McLean scored 10 and had 10 boards to lead the Muskies. Oh yes, Indiana University/Purdue University at Fort Wayne is now called simply IPFW.

In high school football playoff action Friday night, Anderson topped Winton Woods 24-21 to go to the division II semi-finals next weekend. On Saturday night at Nippert Stadium in division I, Elder and Colerain went to two overtime periods before the Panthers prevailed over the Cardinals 26-20. Colerain fumbled on both of their tries.

On Friday night before a national audience, the Bearcats prevailed over the Louisville Cardinals 28-20 at Papa John Stadium. It wasn't easy, the Cats had to overcome a failed fourth and one attempt deep in their own territory which turned into a Cardinal touchdown, a rash of first half penalties when the Cardinals had none, three misses by their field goal kicker who had made eleven in a row before last week and losing their quarterback to a bruised sternum in the fourth quarter. Dominic Goodman made one big catch after another and the defense was stellar again.

On a cold Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati, the Bengals stood tall against the mighty Philadelphia Eagles but ended up only kissing their sister. The game ended in an unheard of 13-13 tie as Shane Graham's field goal attempt blew wide to the right.

On Sunday evening, the UC Bearcat basketball squad opened its season against North Dakota on Ed Jucker court in the Fifth Third Arena at the Shoemaker Center. The Cats were hardly challenged as the won easily 77-46. Freshman Yancey Gates looked strong with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

UC football moved up to number 19 in the Associated Press top 25 ratings.