2012 Belk Bowl

The2012Belk Bowlwas a post-season Americancollege footballbowl gameheld on December 27, 2012, atBank of America StadiuminCharlotte, North Carolinain the United States. The eleventh edition of the Belk Bowl began at 6:30 p.m.ESTand aired onESPN.It featured theBig East Conferenceco-championCincinnati Bearcatsagainst theDuke Blue Devilsfrom theAtlantic Coast Conference(ACC), and was the final game of the2012 NCAA Division I FBS football seasonfor both teams. The Bearcats accepted their invitation after achieving a 9–3 record in the regular season, while the Blue Devils accepted theirs after achieving a 6–6 record. This was the first Belk Bowl for both teams.

2012Belk Bowl
Cincinnati Bearcats Duke Blue Devils (9–3) (6–6) Big East ACC 48 34 Head coach: Steve Stripling (interim) Head coach: David Cutcliffe
1 2 3 4 Total Cincinnati 3 14 10 21 48 Duke 16 0 8 10 34
Date	December 27, 2012
Season	2012
Stadium	Bank of America Stadium
Location	Charlotte, North Carolina
MVP	Brendon Kay (QB, Cincinnati)
Favorite	Cincinnati by 11
Referee	Matt Austin (SEC)
Attendance	48,128
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN
Announcers	Mike Patrick(Play-by-play) Ed Cunningham(Analyst) Jeannine Edwards(Sideline)

Teams

This was the first meeting between these two teams.

Cincinnati

See also:2012 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

The Bearcats finished in a four-way tie for the Big East title with a 5–2 conference record (holding the tiebreaker over theSyracuse Orangebut behind theRutgers Scarlet KnightsandLouisville Cardinals). After defeating theConnecticut Huskiesin their season finale, the Bearcats accepted an invitation to the 2012 Belk Bowl.On Friday, December 7, 2012, Head CoachButch Jonesresigned from theUniversity of Cincinnatito accept the head coaching position at theUniversity of Tennessee.Assistant head coach Steve Stripling coached the Bearcats in the bowl game.

Duke

See also:2012 Duke Blue Devils football team

The Blue Devils are coming off their best season in almost twenty years; despite finishing fifth in the ACC Coastal Division standings with a 3–5 record, the ACC's lack of bowl-eligible teams enabled the Blue Devils to accept their invitation to the 2012 Belk Bowl.

This will be the Blue Devils' first bowl game since the1995 Hall of Fame Bowl,in which they lost to theWisconsin Badgersby a score of 34–20.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Cincinnati Duke 1 11:48 8 79 3:12 Duke Brandon Connette 5-yard touchdown run, Ross Martin kick blocked 0 6 1 6:12 11 44 3:38 Duke 33-yard field goal by Ross Martin 0 9 1 4:45 3 1 1:27 Duke Team punt blocked by Tony Foster recovered for a touchdown 0 16 1 1:43 7 50 3:02 Cincy 45-yard field goal by Tony Miliano 3 16 2 4:02 5 54 2:08 Cincy Anthony McClung 25-yard touchdown reception from Brendon Kay, Tony Miliano kick good 10 16 2 0:42 6 98 1:46 Cincy Ralph Abernathy 41-yard touchdown reception from Brendon Kay, Tony Miliano kick good 17 16 3 10:02 8 70 4:58 Cincy 27-yard field goal by Tony Miliano 20 16 3 7:41 2 60 0:41 Cincy George Winn46-yard touchdown run, Tony Miliano kick good 27 16 3 3:00 11 86 4:41 Duke Conner Vernon10-yard touchdown reception fromSean Renfree,2-point Sean Renfree pass to Isaac Blakeney good 27 24 4 12:45 9 68 3:09 Duke David Reeves 2-yard touchdown reception from Brandon Connette, Ross Martin kick good 27 31 4 11:19 4 77 1:26 Cincy Chris Moore 25-yard touchdown reception from Brendon Kay, Tony Miliano kick good 34 31 4 7:24 10 46 3:55 Duke 52-yard field goal by Ross Martin 34 34 4 0:44 4 94 0:48 Cincy Travis Kelce83-yard touchdown reception from Brendon Kay, Tony Miliano kick good 41 34 4 0:14 - - - Cincy Interception returned 55 yards for touchdown by Nick Temple, Tony Miliano kick good 48 34 "TOP" =time of possession.For other American football terms, seeGlossary of American football. Cincinnati Duke

Statistics

Statistics	CIN	DUKE
First Downs	18	36
Total offense, plays - yards	53–554	89–560
Rushes-yards (net)	28-222	39-200
Passing yards (net)	332	360
Passes, Comp-Att-Int	17-25-0	38-50-2
Time of Possession	26:18	33:42