CINCINNATI (AP) — Brendon Kay threw for a touchdown and ran for another on Friday night, getting Cincinnati’s offense moving after its worst showing of the season, and the Bearcats pulled away to a 27-10 victory over South Florida.

Cincinnati (8-3, 4-2 Big East) was coming off a 10-3 loss to Rutgers that eliminated the Bearcats from the league title race. It was the first time since 1987 that the Bearcats gave up only 10 points and lost.

Kay ended the drought with an 18-yard touchdown scramble in the first quarter. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Travis Kelce and set up another score with a 48-yard completion. Kay was 17 of 27 for 178 yards. He also ran seven times for 48 yards.

South Florida (3-8, 1-5) struggled behind redshirt freshman Matt Floyd, making his first career start. Floyd completed 21 of 39 passes for 176 yards.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.

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