Notre Dame finally gets on the board and now it’s 17-7 as we head in the fourth quarter. I’m nervous, I’m a mess, you name it. Ridder to Pierce for a big gain to start the quarter was huge, but the Bearcats weren’t able to get points out of it as Smith missed another field goal. The Irish are back in it at the 8:20 mark of the fourth quarter as they get a touchdown reception to cut the lead to 17-13. Panic mode set in for me and Bearcat fans. As anxiety for us, the offense led by their leader in Ridder was able to produce a 6 play, 75 yards touchdown drive to run 3:12 off the clock and 6-yard touchdown score of his own to make it 24-13 and let the pressure off the team.
Clocks hit zero at the final kneel down, Bearcats win 24-13, and the noise of red that wreak havoc in the stadium on that day went into jubilation. My phone blew up and it just was such a wonderful feeling at that moment when the game ended. The Pitt game in 2009 was insane, but this one felt different because of proving to the media that Cincinnati belongs in the conversation for a College Football Playoff berth and also beating Brian Kelly was just the cherry on top.
You can trust in a quarterback that will go down as one of the greats in school history, a head coach that deserves another huge raise and statute and an elite defense that is one of the best in the country with NFL-caliber players. The field goal kicking game leaves a lot to be desire to put it nicely.
This season is long from over and now from here on out this team will be favored in all their conference games. A No. 5 ranking to begin the week is well deserved and more media attention. Head coach Luke Fickell and the old players on this team will remind them not to get a big head. It’s a one game at a time mode, but this win at Notre Dame is one that myself and all of us won’t forget.
