It’s Tuesday as I write this piece and we are three days fresh off the biggest regular-season victory in school history for the Cincinnati Bearcats football team over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this past Saturday at South Bend. All of us including myself are still buzzing from the victory, but are definitely well aware that UC has a quick turnaround as they open up the American Athletic Conference play on Friday night (7 pm on ESPN) against the Temple Owls from historic Nippert Stadium.
Before we look ahead to that game I want to tell you why last Saturday meant a lot to Bearcat fans that have stuck with this program through the thick and thin. As a Cincinnati sports fan when it comes to big high marquee games like this one my confidence level on my team coming out on top is very low and can you blame me for it? Look at the many heartbreaks we’ve had to endure with the Bengals, Reds, Bearcats football and basketball. So this game against the Fighting Irish, I had my doubts, but I was hoping for a better outcome.
The first drive of the game Notre Dame drove the field with ease and was looking like they were going to go up 7-0 real quick, but Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner had other plans as his picked near the endzone was I believe the turning point for the defense and killed all the momentum Notre Dame and its fans had. Deshawn Pace’s interception early in the second quarter sets up Desmond Ridder’s touchdown pass to Lenoard Taylor to make it 7-0 Cats. In the ensuing kickoff, Notre Dame muffed the kickoff return that Wilson Huber recovered and all of us are thinking these are the breaks Cincinnati sports teams rarely get in these games. Cole Smith connected on a field goal to make it 10-0. At this point of the game, I’m antsy, but well pleased with how the squad came out to play. The Bearcats offense score before halftime as Ridder connected with Tre Tucker for a 27-yard touchdown reception to make it 17-0.
I knew for damn sure that this game was far from over even in the midst of Cincinnati’s defense dominating the Irish’ offense, the offense moving the ball with great pace I’ve seen this movie before, I was just hoping we don’t play a Georgia at the Peach Bowl and play not to lose. They didn’t as the offense came out for the second half thanks to a big catch and reception by Alec Pierce who had one heck of a game, but unfortunately Smith missed a chip shot field goal and Notre Dame hopes to remain alive. UC’s defense remained lethal as they held served and stopped the Irish attempt to convert on fourth down. Ridder and company get the ball back moving the ball and looking to put the game out of reach with a touchdown, but a strip, sack, and fumble on Ridder returned by Notre Dame gave them new life and I was thinking this might be the beginning of the downfall.
