Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Tony Pike set career-highs with 399 passing yards and six touchdown throws, and fifth-ranked Cincinnati matched a school record with its 11th win in a 49-36 victory over Illinois.
Pike made his first start since October 15 against South Florida, missing three games and seeing limited action in one more due to a broken left forearm. He completed 32-of-46 passes and set a school record with the six touchdown passes for the Bearcats (11-0), who can clinch the Big East title with a win over Pittsburgh next week.
Four different receivers had seven receptions apiece, with Ben Guidugli leading the way with 149 yards and two touchdowns. Mardy Gilyard added 102 yards, two touchdowns and a kickoff return for a score. Armon Binns and D.J. Woods added a receiving score apiece.
Cincinnati matched its school record set last year during an 11-3 season, and it is currently ranked fifth in the BCS -- the highest in school history.
Juice Williams connected on 21-of-34 throws for 282 yards and three touchdowns for Illinois (3-8), which has lost two in a row and will finish its season against Fresno State next week. Williams also added 67 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries to lead the team.
Chris Duvalt caught six passes for 94 yards and a score, while Fred Sykes had two touchdown receptions in defeat.
After forcing a three-and-out on the game's opening series, Illinois marched 87 yards in 12 plays to take the early lead. On 3rd-and-8 from the Illini 31, Williams scrambled for 17 yards up the middle to keep the drive going, and his 21-yard touchdown pass to Sykes on 3rd-and-13 provided an early advantage.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Gilyard took a short kickoff and sprinted 90 yards down the right sideline -- avoiding two would-be tacklers -- to tie the game, 7-7, with 7:25 left in the first quarter.
Cincinnati's defense followed by forcing a punt, and the offense set up at the Bearcats' 41-yard line. On the first play of the set, Pike found Guidugli all alone behind the defense and hit him for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead 89 seconds after the previous score.
The Bearcats scored again on their next drive, going 58 yards in nine plays for a 21-7 advantage. Pike made it a 14-point game after one quarter with a six-yard scoring pass to Woods, who made an acrobatic grab in the back of the end zone between two defenders.
The first play of the second quarter saw Pike find Guidugli all alone again in the middle of the field for a 40-yard gain down to the Illinois two, and the two connected again on the next play for a score and a 28-7 cushion.
The Illini finally answered with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Duvalt with 11 1/2 minutes until halftime, and Derek Dimke added a 39-yard field goal for Illinois after Cincy was stopped on 4th-and-1 near midfield.
Cincinnati faced 4th-and-1 again on its next series but converted with a six- yard completion to Gilyard, and the talented wideout caught an 11-yard touchdown pass two plays later for a 35-17 game with four minutes until halftime.
Dimke nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to put Illinois down by 15, 35-20, at the break.
After several failed drives by both teams in the third, Cincinnati found itself on the Illinois five-yard line following a 45-yard pass from Pike to Gilyard. The Bearcats couldn't score on 3rd-and-goal, but a defensive personal foul gave them new life, and Binns caught a 10-yard touchdown pass to make it 42-20 with just under five minutes left.
Dimke's 30-yard field goal just before the fourth got Illinois to within 19 points, and Williams' two-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes left made it a 12-point game, 42-30.
Cincinnati came back and all but sealed the win with an 11-play, 81-yard drive, as Pike hit Gilyard in the back of the end zone for a 21-yard score with 4:19 left to play for a 19-point advantage.
A Williams-to-Sykes seven-yard hookup for a TD with just under three minutes remaining provided the final margin.
Game Notes: Williams made his 43rd start at quarterback for Illinois, a school record...Cincinnati has won 17 straight regular season games...It was the first-ever meeting between the schools...Gilyard's kickoff return for a score was the fourth of his career.