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          Freshman Anderson sparks Cincinnati in college debut

          Oct 3, 2008
          • Associated Press

          HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Redshirt freshman Chazz Anderson threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score in his college debut to lead Cincinnati to a 33-10 victory over Marshall on Friday night.

          Anderson is Cincinnati's third starting quarterback this season after injuries sidelined Dustin Grutza and backup Tony Pike. Coach Brian Kelly made a game-time decision to start Anderson over redshirt freshman Zach Collaros, who led the go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter in a 17-15 win over Akron last week.

          Anderson looked like a calm veteran at times, leading the Bearcats (4-1) on two long scoring drives in the second half to break open a close game. He finished 16-of-26 for 158 yards and was intercepted once against one of the nation's worst pass defenses.

          Marshall (3-3), looking to reverse three straight losing seasons under coach Mark Snyder, has scored just one touchdown in its past two games. The Thundering Herd fell to 0-3 against BCS teams this season and were outscored 111-27 by Cincinnati, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

          Marshall redshirt freshman Mark Cann had his second straight poor outing. He went 17-of-36 for 178 yards, was intercepted three times and sacked three times.

          Midway through the third quarter, Anderson drove Cincinnati 89 yards and found Dominick Goodman in the end zone for the second time, this one from 7 yards out for a 23-10 lead.

          After Aaron Webster's interception on Marshall's next series led to Jake Rogers' 40-yard field goal, Anderson capped an 86-yard drive with a 1-yard run with 10:12 left in the game for the final margin.

          Cincinnati outgained Marshall 122-119 in the first half but jumped ahead 16-3 with the help of Thundering Herd mistakes.

          Cincinnati's Connor Barwin blocked a Kase Whitehead punt out of the end zone for a first-quarter safety. The Bearcats took over at the Marshall 48 after the ensuing free kick and needed just four plays to reach the end zone, with John Goebel scoring on a 21-yard run for a 9-0 lead.

          It seemed every time Marshall started to move the ball, mistakes and penalties ended drives.

          Marshall advanced to the Cincinnati 37 in the second quarter, but Darius Marshall ran in circles and lost 14 yards, Cann was sacked and Whitehead shanked a 17-yard punt.

          A penalty wiped out a 25-yard reception by Darius Passmore on Marshall's next possession. Two plays later, Cann's pass bounced off Cody Slate's shoulder and Cedric Tolbert returned the interception 35 yards to the Marshall 14. Anderson then found Goodman in the end zone for a 16-0 lead.

          The lone bright spot for Cann was a 57-yard scoring pass to Slate on Marshall's first series of the second half to cut it to 16-10.