By Darin The December 5, 2009, showdown between the No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats and No. 15 Pittsburgh Panthers was not just a game—it was a chaotic, high-stakes shootout for the Big East title and a BCS bid. Played at a hostile Heinz Field, the contest delivered one of the most unbelievable finishes in conference history, proving that no lead is safe in college football.
Early on, it looked like Pittsburgh would run away with the game, building up a commanding 21-point advantage. However, the Bearcats were far from finished, fueled by the electrifying performance of receiver and return specialist Mardy Gilyard. Gilyard was an absolute one-man wrecking crew, exploding for an incredible 374 all-purpose yards and scoring two crucial touchdowns that brought Cincinnati roaring back into the contest.
The drama reached a fever pitch in the final minutes. Pitt had scored a go-ahead touchdown with just 1:36 left, putting them ahead 44-38. But a critical, fate-altering mistake followed: the Panthers mishandled the snap on the extra point attempt, failing to convert the point and leaving the door open for the Bearcats to win with a single touchdown and an extra point.
Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike quickly orchestrated a masterful final drive. With time dwindling, Pike delivered a strike on a 29-yard touchdown pass to Armon Binns, grabbing the Bearcats their first lead of the entire game with only 33 seconds left on the clock. The subsequent extra point sealed the improbable 45-44 victory.
This thrilling comeback victory secured the Big East Championship for Cincinnati and sent them to a BCS bowl game. More importantly, it became an instant classic, highlighting the electrifying play of Mardy Gilyard and demonstrating how a single, tiny error—that mishandled snap—can dramatically swing the fortunes of an entire college football season.
Article from Dec 6, 2009 The Herald (Rock Hill, South Carolina)
