By Mark Curnutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The last time Bengals running back Nicolas Luchey carried the ball in a game, his name was Nick Williams. Luchey, who legally changed his name this past summer to that of his biological father, carried 12 times for 59 yards Sunday in the Bengals' 20-13 upset of the New Orleans Saints.

All of Luchey's runs came in the fourth quarter. And on the Bengals' winning drive, he carried six times in a row - his final run from the 3-yard line for a touchdown and a 20-13 lead.

Before Sunday, he last ran the ball twice for 14 yards on Dec.24, 2000, in the season finale at Philadelphia.

But, Luchey said, he gets plenty of work in practice on the scout team. His role: Playing the opponent's featured tailback. This past week, Luchey was New Orleans' Deuce McAllister.

"I took a lot of reps in practice, servicing the defense, so I take about five or 10 reps in a row in practice," Luchey said. "So you're getting fatigued in practice. I had already conditioned myself."

Luchey is a 267-pound load who plays fullback, tailback and tight end. He has played in all 15 games.

On Sunday, Luchey was the featured tailback after injuries knocked Corey Dillon and Brandon Bennett from the game. He responded with the best game of his four-year career.

With 10:48 left in the game, Luchey ran into the end zone from the 1 to tie the game at 13. Saints special-teamer Grady Jackson then blocked Neil Rackers' extra-point attempt.

Before his touchdown run, Luchey ran 7 yards on a fourth-and-2 play.

"I thought Nick would do OK if he had to go in there," Bengals coach Dick LeBeau said. "And you know what? He did a little better than OK."

Most of Luchey's runs were between the guards. Center Rich Braham and guards Mike Goff and Matt O'Dwyer created holes in the Saints' front seven.

"There were some spaces up there for him to be hitting," LeBeau said.

On the winning drive, Luchey ran the final 36 yards on six plays. LeBeau and his staff might have known who Luchey was. The New Orleans sideline only could figure it out when told Luchey was former Miami Hurricane Nick Williams.

"They brought in that big back - about 280, 290 - and it seemed like he got 4 or 5 yards every time, even after you hit him," Saints safety Sammy Knight said.

Every time he ran, though, Luchey's name was mispronounced "Luchee" by stadium public-address announcer Tim Kinder.

"I don't know who `Luchee' is," Luchey said. "They've been doing it all season."

The two touchdowns were the first two of Luchey's career. He only had 20 rushing attempts for 84 yards.

On his second score, which gave the Bengals the lead, Luchey paid homage to the franchise's last glory days by doing the Ickey Shuffle. That was the touchdown dance that Ickey Woods made into a national sensation during the Bengals' Super-Bowl season of 1988.

"I wanted to give a special shout-out to Ickey Woods," Luchey said. "I wear Ickey Woods' jersey (No.30), and Ickey Woods is a friend of mine as well. I respect the things Ickey Woods and those guys back in the day - Tim Krumrie, Boomer Esiason - did for the Bengals. I just wanted to commemorate them and let him know he's still alive here."

Luchey will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. Sunday's showing will help come free agency.

"It helps solidify that I am a versatile player, and I can contribute to a team in many ways," Luchey said. "It helps me out a lot. I know they want to re-sign me."