The Cincinnati Bearcats welcomed in the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners in to Nippert Stadium for their first game in the Big 12. The morning was huge for Bearcat fans as Fox Big Noon Kickoff was on campus and in Nippert Stadium. This was the first time these two teams have met inside of Nippert Stadium and the third time they have met in program history.
Note: Defensive back Deshawn Pace is out due to conduct detrimental to the team (Ken Willis started in the place of Pace) and cornerback Sammy Anderson, Jr. is out for his third straight game (Justin Harris started for the third time in his place).
Cincinnati struck first with a 40 yard field goal from Carter Brown. The next drive Oklahoma drove inside the Cincinnati red zone and quarterback Dillion Gabriel fumbled on 2nd down after he was hit by safety Bryon Threats, linebacker Jack Dingle recovered it. Cincinnati didn’t capitalize after a few missed throws, Oklahoma answered with a Gabriel 5 yard touchdown to Nic Anderson to take a 7-3 lead. After a three and out, Marcus Major rushed for 19 yards on a 3rd and 19 play at their own 3 yard line. Oklahoma ended up hitting a 34 yard field by Zach Schmit to push the lead to 10-3. After a few nice plays one to Evan Prater and the other to Chamon Metayer, Jones ended up throwing an interception in the end zone to safety Key Lawrence. Cincinnati drove it down into the red zone and Brown missed a 26 yard field goal before the half to keep the score at 10-3. Oklahoma will get the ball back at the half.
Cincinnati is getting out-gained 245 to 175, right now they are 2-of-9 on third down and that’s the story overall.
Cincinnati forced an Oklahoma punt on the first drive, would they be able to answer on offense? Another drive stalls, but this time Brown knocks down a career long 54 yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-6. Gabriel and crew answered the bell with a drive where they had more than 40 yards rushing, he capped the drive with a 1 yard run, where he met Cincy defenders at the goal line and won the battle. Down 17-6 with 5:23 left in the third quarter could they keep it close? Cincinnati got it to the 20 yard line, and on 2nd and 2 got stopped three times in a row and on the next play Gabriel hit Andrea Anthony for a 49 yard boom to put pressure on Cincinnati to end the third quarter. The defense was able to hold Oklahoma to a 31 yard field goal by Schmit. Oklahoma pushed the lead to 20-6. Cincinnati pushed it to the Oklahoma side of the field, but on 4th and 2, Jones threw his second pick of the game this time to safety Billy Bowman. The defense held up and forced a punt, but the offense didn’t match their energy and got stopped on 4th and 2 to give Oklahoma the ball back. Cincinnati was 3-of-15 on third down and ultimately that doomed them.
Cincinnati’s defense held down the high powered offense, but their offense didn’t come to the party in the red zone or on third down. Oklahoma went on to win 20-6, Cincinnati is now 2-2 and 0-1 in the Big 12.
Red zone and third down ineffectiveness was the reason for the loss, will they able to bounce back against BYU?
