Collaros Throws Career-Best Five TDs As Cincinati Defeats Louisville, 35-27

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Zach Collaros threw three of his career-high five touchdown passes to Armon Binns, as the Cincinnati Bearcats took down the Louisville Cardinals, 35-27, in Big East action from Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

Collaros completed 18-of-28 passes for 275 yards and two interceptions for the Bearcats (3-3, 1-0 Big East), who have now won 13 straight conference games. Binns caught eight passes for 175 yards.

D.J. Woods hauled in two touchdown passes totaling 61 yards, and Isaiah Pead carried the ball 21 times for 145 yards for Cincinnati, which has won three consecutive games against Louisville.

Adam Froman connected on 18-of-27 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals (3-3, 0-1), who were trying for their first three-game winning streak since the 2008 season.

Bilal Powell carried the ball 24 times for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns.

Trailing 24-21, Cincinnati put together a 14-play, 77-yard drive on its second possession of the third quarter. The Bearcats converted on three third downs during the march that lasted over six minutes. Woods capped the series with a 14-yard catch in the middle of the end zone for a 28-24 lead with 2:51 to go.

Collaros was intercepted by Darius Ashley on the first play of the fourth. Louisville cut the gap to 28-27 with Chris Philpott's 37-yard field goal.

Cincinnati responded with a five-play, 74-yard drive. Faced with a 3rd-and-9, Collaros and Binns hooked up on a 62-yard score to make it a 35-27 contest with over nine minutes to play.

The Cardinals marched the ball down to the Cincinnati eight-yard line. Two incomplete passes and a four-yard loss on a run by Powell set up a 4th-and- goal from the 12. Froman's pass to Josh Bellamy was broken up by Camerron Cheatham.

The Bearcats scored on their first offensive play to get a high-scoring first quarter started. Collaros rolled to his right and threw a 47-yard TD pass to Woods.

Philpott missed a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing Louisville possession, but Greg Scruggs' interception gave the Cardinals' offense the ball back. Josh Chichester made it a 7-7 game with an 11-yard touchdown catch.

Cincinnati responded with a nine-play drive that Binns capped with a 10- yard score for a 14-7 lead. However, Powell's sensational 85-yard touchdown run quickly tied things up again with 1:20 left in the first.

Louisville bridged the first and second frames with a seven-play drive, which Philpott capped with a 26-yard field goal for a 17-14 margin. The Cardinals built a 10-point lead with a 12-play, 69-yard drive that featured a trio of third-down conversions. Powell ended the march with a nine-yard TD run to make it 24-14 with 5:33 to go until half.

Binns' 31-yard touchdown catch with 3:46 remaining made it a 24-21 game at the break.

Philpott missed a 40-yard field goal early in the third quarter.