Cincinnati's seniors capped their careers with a dominating performance in a 32-14 win over Marshall at the 2004 PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl.

Linebacker Tyjuan Hagler started things by blocking a punt one minute into the game, which was returned by Antwan Giddens for a touchdown. Hagler forced a fumble to set up one of three Kevin Lovell field goals, recorded a sack and had a team-high seven tackles to earn a spot on Football News` all-bowl team.

Trent Cole and Andre Frazier each recorded sacks while leading the defensive pursuit from their end positions. Cole also blocked a punt for a safety. UC's defense held the Thundering Herd to 134 total yards and minus-3 yards rushing.

Gino Guidugli capped his stellar career with his guttiest performance. Playing with a broken hand, Guidugli completed 24-of-36 passes for 231 yards and staked the Bearcats to their lead with a pair of second-quarter TD tosses. Guidugli was to be limited to shotgun snaps, but with the running game sputtering, he moved under center in the second quarter, a move which energized the offense. UC gained 168 yards on the ground, 62 by Richard Hall who capped his senior season with 1,000 yards. Hannibal Thomas caught nine passes for 102 yards to top the 1,000-yard mark in receiving.

UC jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Antwuan Giddens return of Hagler's blocked punt and Lovell's 23-yard field goal. The Herd retaliated with two late first quarter TD's, the second on a 32-yard interception return of an errant Guidugli pass, the senior's lone miscue of the night. The Bearcat defense shut down Marshall after that, allowing just 52 yards in total offense the remaining three quarters.

Guidugli capped scoring drives of 13 and 11 plays with TD passes of 15 yards to Brent Celek and eight yards to Earnest Jackson to give UC a 28-10 lead before the half. The Bearcats coasted from there.

First Quarter
CIN--Antwan Giddens 9-yd return of blocked punt (Kevin Lovell kick), 14:00
CIN--FG Kevin Lovell, 23 yards, 6:23
MAR--Josh Davis 14-yd pass from Stan Hill (Ian O'Connor kick), 5:17
MAR--Willie Smith 32-yd interception return (Ian O'Connor kick), 0:16

Second Quarter
CIN--Brent Celek 15-yd pass from Gino Guidugli (Kevin Lovell kick), 4:31
CIN--Earnest Jackson 8-yd pass from Gino Guidugli (Kevin Lovell kick), 0:18

Fourth Quarter
CIN--FG Kevin Lovell 19 yards, 10:50
CIN--Safety, Trent Cole blocked Marshall's punt recovered in the end zone, 9:42
CIN--FG Kevin Lovell 35 yards, 4:59

Attendance: 27,902

Rushing-- Marshall: Charles 7-9; Hill 5-4; Bradshaw 6 (-5); Gochneaur 2-(-10); Team 1-(-1). Cincinnati: R. Hall 23-62; Glatthaar 10-48; Benton 7-33; Guidugli 3-12; Daniels 1-10; Carpenter 1-3.
Passing-- Marshall: Hill 30-14-1, 137, 1; Gochneaur 2-0-0, 0. Cincinnati: Guidugli 36-24-1, 231, 2; Carey 1-0-1, 0; Murray 1-0-0, 0; Team 1-0-0.
Receiving-- Marshall: Davis 5-67, 1; Bates 4-27; Spann 2-2; Deitel 1-30; Fitzgerald 1-10; Bradshaw 1-1. Cincinnati: Thomas 9-102; R. Hall 5-38; E. Jackson 4-24, 1; Celek 2-37, 1; Murray 2-20; Daniels 1-8; Poland 1-2.