Aztecs Scouting Report: vs. Cincinnati

By: MICHAEL KLITZING - Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 12:20 AM PDT ∞

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium

Series: This is the first meeting between the Aztecs and Cincinnati, a member of the Big East Conference.

Player to watch: S Haruki Nakamura

Don't be deceived by his 5-foot-10 stature -- Nakamura is Cincinnati's do-everything player. The hard-hitting senior leads the team with 23 tackles while picking off two passes, forcing a fumble and collecting half a sack. Oh yeah, he also returns punts.

Offense

Senior QB Ben Mauk, a transfer from Wake Forest, has not started the past two games for the Bearcats because of a tired shoulder, but he did play some Saturday against Marshall. Junior Dustin Grutza is a more-than-competent replacement, with 23 career starts under his belt. The two have virtually identical numbers this season, combining to complete 69.6 percent of their passes for 952 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception in head coach Brian Kelly's spread offense. ... Four Bearcats have at least 10 catches, led by WR Marcus Barnett's 19. ... Cincinnati has shown it can run, too. Butler Benton is the leading rusher (228 yards) on a team that has averaged 175.5 rushing yards per game.

Defense

Cincinnati feasts on forcing turnovers. The Bearcats have caused 19 this year -- including seven in a win over Oregon State -- and have a remarkable plus-15 turnover margin. ... Junior CB Mike Mickens has four of Cincinnati's 12 interceptions, giving him the most in the Big East and second-most nationally. ... As hard as it is to pass against Cincinnati, the Bearcats have only allowed 59.7 yards per game on the ground over the past three games. ... The Bearcats have tallied 13 sacks, led by senior Anthony Hoke's three.

Noteworthy

Cincinnati earned a No. 24 ranking on Sunday, having gotten off to a 4-0 start by a combined score of 180-30. It was the program's first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 since 1976. ... This is technically Kelly's first season with Cincinnati, but he has already led the Bearcats to a bowl victory. Kelly was hired away from Central Michigan last December after Mark Dantonio bolted to Michigan State. Cincinnati defeated Western Michigan in the International Bowl 34 days later. ... The late Sid Gillman, who coached the Chargers from their inception in 1960, went 50-13-1 as coach of the Bearcats from 1949-54. ... This is Cincinnati's first trip to California since playing at Pacific in 1958.