Kay throws for 244 yards, 2 TDs in first start as Cincinnati defeats Temple 34-10 in Big East

PHILADELPHIA – Cincinnati scored on four of its last five first-half possessions and rode that momentum to a 34-10 Big East victory over Temple on Saturday.

Senior quarterback Brendon Kay, making his first career start for the Bearcats (7-2, 3-1), was an efficient 13-for-21 for 244 yards, including a pair of touchdown passes of 75 and 65 yards. But Kay did a little of everything, rushing for 71 yards on seven carries and also making a 5-yard reception, when he caught his own deflected pass.

Kay replaced starter Munchie Legaux, who had been ineffective for the Bearcats, throwing nine interceptions, including six in the Bearcats' last three games.

Temple (3-6, 2-4), in its first Big East season since 2004, lost for the fourth straight time.

Kay didn't turn the ball over in directing the Bearcats on scoring drives of 74, 75, 80, 94 and 71 yards.

The Bearcats were in firm control by halftime. A 29-yard Kay completion to Anthony McClung, along with a Temple personal foul penalty, in the first quarter helped set up the first of George Winn's two 1-yard touchdown runs. Kay's 40-yard run on a third-and-12 play in the second quarter set up Winn's second score.

Temple, which has been outscored 86-27 in the first half the last three weeks, was able to do little against Cincinnati. The Owls' leading rusher, Montel Harris, injured his left knee after losing 3 yards on a screen pass with 12:38 left in the second quarter and never returned.

Temple starting quarterback Chris Coyer was replaced by Clinton Granger in the second half. Granger promptly guided the Owls to their only touchdown, ending an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Cody Booth with 8:55 left in the third quarter.

It was Granger's first career touchdown pass. He finished 7-of-15 for 86 yards.