Chad Plummer threw for a touchdown and ran for another score and Cornelius Bonner caught two touchdown passes as Cincinnati defeated Utah State, 35-19, in the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl.

Deontey Kenner, who rotated at quarterback with Plummer, completed 10-of-16 passes for 124 yards and one touchdown for Cincinnati, which had not played in the postseason since the 1951 Sun Bowl.

Plummer, voted the game's Most Valuable Player, completed 5-of-10 passes for 61 yards while rushing 15 times for 53 yards.

Bonner, who had 48 yards on four receptions, caught touchdown passes of 14-yards each from Plummer and Kenner as the Bearcats raced to a 21-0 halftime lead.

Orlando Smith led Cincinnati in rushing with 82 yards on 15 carries while the Bearcats held a 265-76 advantage in rushing yards while holding the ball for more than 42 minutes.

Following a fumble by Utah State's Demario Brown early in the second half, the Bearcats went 57 yards in seven plays, capped by Plummer's 15-yard scoring run around right end that made it 28-0.

Just 1:03 later, Utah State's Steve Smith turned a five-yard pass from Matt Sauk into a spectacular 75-yard touchdown as he broke tackles and outran the secondary. But Cincinnati answered with a seven-yard scoring run by Orlando Smith on a screen pass that was ruled a lateral.

Melvin Blue's three-yard TD run capped an 80-yard drive in just 1:54, but the Aggies missed the extra point and trailed 35-13 with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Aggies got themselves back in the game two minutes into the fourth quarter. Cincinnati punter Doug Johnson could not handle a high snap and freshman linebacker Brent Passey picked up the loose ball and went 10 yards for the score.

First Quarter
CIN- Bonner 14-yd pass from Plummer (Judge kick), 4:03

Second Quarter
CIN- Bonner 14-yd pass from Kenner (Judge kick), 14:12
CIN- L. Smith 1-yd run (Judge kick), 8:30

Third Quarter
CIN - Plummer 15-yd run (Judge kick), 8:39
USU - Smith 75-yd pass from Sauk (Bohn kick), 7:31
CIN- O. Smith 7-yd run (Judge kick), 2:28
USU - Blue 3-yd run (kick failed), 0:29

Fourth Quarter
USU- Passey 10-yd fumble return (Pass failed), 14:18

Attendance: 16,131

Rushing-- Cincinnati: O. Smith 15-78, 1; Plummer 15-53, 1; Cooper 17-47; L. Smith 7-32, 1; Royal 9-24; Isom 1-1; Team 1-(-10). Utah State: Brown 12-56; Smith 2-11; Blue 2-6, 1; Sauk 4-(-10).
Passing-- Cincinnati: Kenner 16-10-0, 124, 1; Plummer 9-5-0, 62, 1. Utah State: Sauk 30-12-3, 253, 1.
Receiving-- Cincinnati: Bonner 4-48, 2; Collins-Baker 4-36; Plummer 4-64; Monroe 2-26; Royal 1-12. Utah State: Smith 4-136; Jenkins 4-80; Brown 3-29; Damuni 1-8.