The No. 6 Cincinnati Bearcats invited AAC foe Houston Cougars to Nippert Stadium for a showdown on a lovely Cincinnati afternoon with the weather being unseasonably warm they looked to move to 6-0 and 4-0 in the conference. Tight end Bruno Labelle, cornerback Arquon Bush and wide receiver Alec Pierce didn’t play today due to recent injuries. Houston came into this game without wide receivers Tre’Von Bradley and Marquez Stevenson, also defensive end Payton Turner.
The first drive was about running back Gerrid Doaks as he ripped off a 72 yard run on 3rd and one and then followed it up later in the drive with a 2 yard touchdown run. The defense locked up during the first quarter even without safety James Wiggins. Wiggins went out early and was replaced by Bryan Cook and Javon Hicks during the quarter. Doaks finished the first quarter with 109 total yards. A drop by wide receiver Jayshon Jackson would’ve been six points for the Bearcats and a couple of miss to Michael Young and Jordan Jones could’ve pushed lead up a lot in the first quarter.
Desmond Ridder scored on a 10 yard run to put the Bearcats up 14-0. Houston followed it up with a nice drive which the key play was a 34 yard pass from Clayton Tune to Bryson Smith that was bobbled and caught. It led to a 3 yard rushing touchdown by Kyle Porter to cut the lead to 14-7. The following drive Ridder broke out for a 32 yard touchdown run to give the Bearcats a 21-7 lead. The following drive Tune hit Nate Dell for a 54 play that Darrick Forrest made a touchdown saving tackle, it held Houston to a field on a drive that had six written all over it. Holding Houston to three ended up being a blessing for the Bearcats as Ridder hit Josh Whyle for a 4 yard fade for a touchdown to put the Bearcats up 28-10. The on the kickoff Hicks forced a fumble that led to the Bearcats trying a Hail Mary that was picked by Houston. Cincinnati went into the half up 28-10. Doaks had 166 yards on 11 carries and one touchdown as well as two catches for 27 yards. Jarell White had eight tackles and Joel Dublanko had six tackles as well. They out gained Houston 344 to 187.
In the third quarter the Bearcats burned 9:12 off of the clock and finished it with a 32 yard field goal by Cole Smith. The defensive unit didn’t allow any points in the third quarter and in the fourth quarter Ridder hit Houston with his feet from 12 yards out for his third rushing touchdown of the day pushing the lead to 38-10. The following drive Forrest got his first interception of the season, finishing off the 38-10 win.
They out gained Houston 510 to 282 yards. Doaks finished the game with 16 carries for 184 yards and a touchdown. Ridder went 17-of-27 for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for 103 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns. White and Cook led the team with nine tackles.
The Bearcats moved to 6-0 (4-0 in the AAC), They will welcome ECU to Nippert Stadium on Friday night.
