Today, the Bearcats traveled to Paycor Stadium for a “road game” versus instate rival Miami for a battle of the Victory Bell. The Bearcats entered this contest winning the last 15 matchups versus the RedHawks as the victory bell has found a comfortable home up in Clifton. The Bearcats were looking to take their first lead in the series since 1915 as the series is currently tied 59-59-7 all time.
The Bearcats would get news that running back Ryan Montgomery would be out for this contest as he is still recovering from a rib injury, he suffered versus Arkansas and would miss his second straight game.
Miami would come out firing to start as their first drive would result in 7 plays, going 75 yards as Aveon Smith connected with Mac Hippenhammer for a 36 yard touchdown, Hippenhammer a former Penn State transfer had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown on the Redhawks first drive, as the Redhawks were getting their star receiver involved early. The Bearcats first drive was halted after a Jadon Thompson fumble, forced by RedHawks cornerback John Saunders, Jr., were the RedHawks would take over at midfield as they controlled all the momentum here at Paycor Stadium to start this one.
The Redhawks would capitalize off the turnover as the Bearcats defense would hold them to a field goal, but the Bearcats now had to get something going offensively as all the momentum was in favor of the RedHawks and they were letting the Bearcats know they came to play early as they took a 10-0 lead over the Bearcats with 6 minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Bearcats would respond after a Charles McClelland 30-yard run sets up an 8 play, 70-yard drive resulting in a 2-yard touchdown run from McClelland himself, and the Bearcats would cut the Redhawks lead to 3, where they trailed 10-7 with 2:44 remaining in the first.
The RedHawks would take a 10-7 lead heading to the second quarter after Ivan Pace,Jr. found his way into his former team’s backfield for the sack to give the Bearcats the ball to start the 2nd quarter, as Pace was making it known he came to play as he recorded four tackles, two of those for loss, and a sack through the first 15 minutes versus his former team here at Paycor Stadium. However, the Bearcats would then find themselves in some trouble after a McClelland fumble deep in the Bearcats territory that would eventually set up a RedHawks touchdown after a pass interference call on Arquon Bush set up a 2 yard touchdown pass from Aveon Smith to Jack Caldiron giving the Redhawks a 17-7 lead with 12:39 remaining in the second quarter, as the Bearcats were facing some early adversity as the RedHawks were looking to snap the Bearcats 15 game win streak and retain the Victory Bell.
The Bearcats would strike back after Ben Bryant continues to sling the rock as he completed his first 10 passes of the day, highlighting a 31-yard gain to Tre Tucker on a 7 play, 75-yard drive that would result in a 1 yard touchdown run by Corey Kiner and the Bearcats would cut the deficit to three as they trailed 17-14. The Bearcats would keep the momentum going after Bryant would sling the rock and go 12 straight for 147 yards before his first incompletion of the day where he was looking for Nick Mardner in the corner of the end zone, The Bearcats would settle for a field goal as Ryan Coe connects on a 26 yarder to tie this one at 17.
The Bearcats would see the Redhawks take a punt return deep into Bearcat territory as Josh Whyle chased down the return to save a potential touchdown as there was a lot of open fields on that return. Aveon Smith would then throw an interception as Arquon Bush would grab his first interception of the season, as Smith would look to force one down the sideline to Mac Hippenhammer. The Bearcats would settle back in as Bryant would connect with Nick Mardner for a spectacular helmet catch in the corner of the endzone to give the Bearcats their first lead heading to the break as they led 24-17 over the Redhawks.
The story of the first half was turnovers as the Bearcats would see two early turnovers behind a fumble from McClelland, and Thompson and the RedHawks would score 10 of those 17 off those Bearcats turnovers, despite a great first drive the RedHawks haven’t been able to get any momentum on offense when they start in their own territory, as the Pace brothers combined for eight tackles, two of those for loss and a sack. The Redhawks haven’t been able to get anything going offensively outside of that first drive where Mac Hippenhammer had three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. On the other hand if the Bearcats dont fumble twice there this could be a whole different ball game as the Bearcats settled in and dominated the second quarter as they outscored the Redhawks 17-7.
The Bearcats would strike first in the second half as they marched down the field after Ben Bryant would air it out to Tyler Scott for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Bearcats a 31-17 lead with 9 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter. The Bearcats would look to add on to their lead as Bryant and the Bearcats were driving, but Bryant tried to sneak one to Chris Scott that would be intercepted by Jacquez Warren as the Redhawks would look to climb back in this one in the final minutes as the Bearcats would take a 31-17 lead to the 4th. The RedHawks would then drive but the Bearcats would get a huge goal line stand on 4th and 1 and take over deep in their own territory.
