Memphis beats Cincinnati, 53-46, as Gunner Kiel takes hit to head

Sam Craft scored on a three-yard run with 53 seconds left to lift host Memphis past Cincinnati, 53-46, on Thursday night in a game marred by an injury to Bearcats starting quarterback Gunner Kiel.

Kiel was injured on a hit in the first quarter when he turned up field and was hit from the side by Chauncey Lanier. Kiel’s neck and head were immobilized and he was helped off the field on a cart and taken to a hospital.

The teams traded touchdowns on the first four possessions of the fourth quarter until Memphis turned it over on downs with 3:11 left. Cincinnati was forced to punt with 2:27 remaining and Memphis (4-0, 1-0 American Athletic Conference) marched down the field in six plays for the go-ahead score.

Freshman Hayden Moore passed for a school-record 557 yards and threw four touchdown passes for Cincinnati (2-2, 0-2).

Wisconsin tailback out

No. 22 Wisconsin will need to get its running game going without starting tailback Corey Clement.

Coach Paul Chryst said that the junior would miss four to six weeks to have sports hernia surgery. Clement missed the last two games, and he played sparingly in the season opener against Alabama after hurting his groin in practice.

“Bummed. I’ve got to get the surgery and do what it takes to get back on the field,” Clement said. An ultrasound Wednesday showed two hernias, Clement said.

Clement practiced Monday. He was supposed to return for the Badgers’ game Saturday night against Hawaii.

Clement was the backup to Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon last year, when Clement ran for 969 yards and nine touchdowns on 147 carries.

Etc.

The Big 12 Conference issued a public reprimand against the Baylor assistant coach who was on the sideline during an Oklahoma home game. The league has also accepted Baylor’s self-imposed penalty against passing game coordinator Jeff Lebby, who will be suspended for the first half when the fifth-ranked Bears host 15th-ranked Oklahoma on Nov. 14. The school also self-reported to the NCAA a violation of a rule that prohibits in-person scouting of a future opponent. Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement that the opportunity for Lebby to scout a future opponent by being on the sideline was inconsistent with the principles and expectations of sportsmanship and ethical conduct. ... Florida State running back Mario Pender has been hospitalized since Tuesday because of a collapsed lung that he suffered during practice. Coach Jimbo Fisher said the injury occurred when Pender ran into the back of one of his own guys. The 10th-ranked Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off this week. Coach Jimbo Fisher said there was a possibility that Pender could play Oct. 3 at Wake Forest. In three games, Pender has 140 yards on 30 carries and a touchdown. ... Alabama backup kicker Gunnar Raborn was arrested on a suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Tuscaloosa, Ala., police arrested Raborn on Thursday. He was released on $1,000 bond. Alabama Coach Nick Saban suspended the sophomore indefinitely.