Fresh off of a bye week the No. 17/18 Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to a Greenville, North Carolina to face the ECU Pirates. Cincinnati game into the game 24 point favorites, but ECU didn’t read the reports as they made what was supposed to be an easy game turn into a game that was a few plays away from upset city.
After going up 21-14, Cincinnati allowed ECU to go on a 17-0 run before halftime to put find a 10 point hole down 31-21. Turnovers and penalties didn’t help Cincinnati out as Desmond Ridder threw two interceptions in the first two quarters and they committed 10 penalties for 89 yards. Even with Ridder not playing sharp, the defense gave up 372 total yards in the first half something most didn’t expect.
Cincinnati struck first with a Michael Warren II 3 yard touchdown do get the score to 31-28, but ECU answered with a 9-0 run that pushed the lead to 40-28 with 14 seconds left in the third quarter. Ridder hit Josiah Deguara for a 3 yard score to put the score at 40-35. The way Holton Ahlers was rolling with C.J. Johnson it was looking rough for Cincinnati with less than nine minutes left in the game, but freshman cornerback Ahmad Gardner went 62 yards on a pick six for their only caused turnover of the game to put them up 43-40 after a successful two-point conversion from Ridder to Deguara. Ahlers led ECU to a successful field goal attempt from 27 yards out by Jake Verity to tie the game at 43 with 1:10 left. Ridder ran for a 30 yard scamper to put Cincinnati in a good place which led to a game winning 32 yard field goal by Sam Crosa as time expired to give them a 46-43 victory.
Crosa’s game winning field goal as time expired.#Bearcats | @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/uIPp95XiyT
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) November 3, 2019
It was an interesting day as the defense gave up 638 total yards to ECU, led by Ahlers going for 535 yards passing with four touchdowns and an a huge interception. C.J. Johnson did something I’ve never seen another wide receiver do to the Cincinnati defense finishing with 12 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown. Blake Proehl finished with eight receptions and 105 yards.
Cincinnati’s running game saved them today on the offensive side as they had 329 yards on the ground. Ridder rushed for a team high 146 yards and also chipped in with 161 yards passing and a touchdown. Warren II had 141 yards to go along with three touchdowns.
It wasn’t pretty, but they won now they are 7-1 overall and 4-0 in the AAC with UConn lined up at home for homecoming weekend. Just keep winning Cincinnati, just keep winning.
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