CINCINNATI � Mardy Gilyard scored four touchdowns as part of the third-best scoring performance in Cincinnati�s history, reaching the end zone on an electrifying punt return, a run and two catches Saturday during the 23rd-ranked Bearcats� 70-3 victory over Southeast Missouri State.

A quick-strike offense scored every which way during a 49-point first half, the biggest in coach Brian Kelly�s three seasons at Cincinnati (2-0). Gilyard was the catalyst, putting together one of the top individual performances in school history.
Gilyard, the Big East�s top returner last season, responded to chants of �Mar-dy! Mar-dy!� by returning the game�s first punt 53 yards. It was the Bearcats� first punt return for a touchdown in 12 years.
He also had his first career rushing touchdown against the Redhawks (1-1), out of the wildcat formation, and caught two touchdown passes from different quarterbacks.
The senior became the first Bowl Subdivision player to score on a punt return, run and catch in the same game since UCLA�s Maurice Drew did it on Oct. 8, 2005 against California, according to STATS, LLC. Drew, who now goes by the last name Jones-Drew, scored five touchdowns in that game.
The 70 points were the third-most in Cincinnati history and the most since a 115-0 win over Kentucky Wesleyan 1921.
The Bearcats played on only four days of rest after their 47-15 season-opening win at Rutgers on Monday. Senior quarterback Tony Pike and the rest of the offense were nearly flawless in that one, but opened Saturday�s game with two dropped passes and an incompletion.
Gilyard�s punt return wiped away the cobwebs and started the rout.
Pike threw three touchdown passes and ran 1 yard for another during the first half. He headed to the bench for the final drive of the half, which ended when Gilyard took a short pass from Zach Collaros and dashed 37 yards down the middle of the field for a touchdown.
Even the reserves had their way. Redshirt freshman Darrin Williams returned the second-half kickoff 100 yards. Cincinnati used five quarterbacks in all.
Pike was 17 of 23 for 229 yards in less than a full half. He was the Big East�s offensive player last week for his performance against Rutgers. Gilyard put himself in position to win the honor next week.
The Bearcats unveiled a Big East championship banner after the first quarter. The first home game of the season drew 30,421 fans, roughly 5,000 less than capacity in the conference�s smallest stadium.
The Redhawks also visited Cincinnati in 2007 and lost 59-3. They�ve dropped their last nine games against Bowl Subdivision teams, including the last four by a margin of 244-16.