Today the Cincinnati Bearcats welcomed in SMU Mustangs for their final home game of the 2021 season. The Bearcats are looking to improve to 11-0, versus a very high powered SMU offense that is lead by Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai. Mordecai, is one of the top quarterbacks in the NCAA when it comes to passing yards, as he has 37 touchdowns and 3,264 yards, However the Mustangs would be without leading receiver Danny Gray as he was out with a foot/ankle injury as he was on the sideline pregame spotted in a boot.
Good news for the Bearcats though, as they had Jake Renfro and Jerome Ford back after missing last weeks game versus USF. Senior safety Bryan Cook who left last weeks game with an upper body injury, was also starting for the Bearcats after leaving the USF game early due to injury. The Bearcats will be looking to stop a high powered SMU offense that loves to throw the ball, it will be a team that will not be scared to target cornerbacks Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and Coby Bryant.
The Bearcats defense came out and and forced an early 3 and out, after an early false start penalty by the Mustangs opened the Bearcats first drive that started from the Bearcats own 47 yard line after a 22 yard punt return from Ryan Montgomery. The Bearcats responded right away as Desmond Ridder connected with a wide open Tyler Scott for a 53 yard touchdown to give the Bearcats an early 7-0 lead.
The Bearcats defense came out and dominated early as they forced three straight 3 and outs to start the game, which was a big impact knowing how effective this Mustang offense has been. Wilson Huber blocked the Mustang punt and set the Bearcats up with great field position as the Bearcats would start their third drive at the Mustang 25, as they were looking to take an early 14-0 lead. The Bearcats took advantage of the blocked punt as Jerome Ford recorded his 16th touchdown on the season on a yard run to give the Bearcats an early 14-0 lead. The Mustangs were driving as they recorded a 10 play, 53 yard drive before a big time fumble after a great tackle on the ball by senior defensive back Coby Bryant, to create the Bearcats turnover, as the Bearcats defense was continuing to be a problem for the Mustangs here early. The Bearcats offense continued to roll as Ridder took off for a 40 yard touchdown run, on 4th and 1 to give the Bearcats a huge 20-0 lead.
The Bearcats defense came out and dominated early, after going consecutive weeks allowing 200 plus rushing yards, the Bearcats defense was not allowing Mordecai to have anytime back in the pocket as the Bearcats recorded two sacks early. Senior linebacker Wilson Huber, recorded a big time sack on 3rd down to force the Mustangs to punt for the 4th time in the first 18 minutes of play. The Senior linebacker had really made a huge impact on the game as he blocked a punt earlier to set up the Bearcats in great field position that eventually was capped off by a Ford touchdown run.
The Bearcats kept the ball rolling after an 8 play, 71 yard drive resulted in a 17 yard touchdown catch from Alec Pierce. A 19 yard catch by Tre Tucker set up the touchdown, Tucker held on after a big shot from an SMU defender. The Bearcats got a huge sack from Curtis Brooks, his second of the game to set up another drive with tremendous field position after a big return from Ryan Montgomery to set up the Bearcats at the Mustangs 25 yard line. The Bearcats stalled after the Mustang defense stood tall and blocked a 34 yard field goal attempt from Alex Bales, as they were looking to create some momentum on offense, but the Bearcats defense was just all over the place, as Brooks was dominating the Mustang offensive line as he all over Mordecai tonight. The Bearcats defense dominated the first half as they held the Mustangs high powered offense to just 76 yards of offense, as Mordecai who is one of the top passing quarterbacks in the NCAA was held to just 23 yards in the first half.
The Bearcats came out in the 3rd quarter right where they left off in the first half as Ridder came out and found Tre Tucker for a 39 yard gain that set up a 3 yard touchdown as the Bearcats pulled out the “Philly Special” as Jordan Jones found Ridder for his first career receiving touchdown to give the Bearcats a 34-0 lead. The Bearcats kept the scoring coming after Ridder capped off a 8 play, 42 yard drive that resulted in a 17 yard touchdown catch by Alec Pierce in the back corner of the end zone to give the Bearcats a 41-0 lead over the Mustangs, as the Bearcats were making a statement here at Nippert Stadium tonight, as they were walking all over SMU.
The Bearcats were playing a complete game as they were dominating on all three levels of the game as that has been something coach Fickell has mentioned all season, as the special teams came up huge as the Mustangs attempted a 44 yard field goal late in the 3rd quarter that was blocked by Arquon Bush, the Bearcats second block on special teams tonight. The Bearcats kept the scoring going as Evan Prater threw a dime to Jordan Jones to put the Bearcats up 48-0 as the Bearcats were dominating tonight as they were firing on all cylinders.
The Mustangs however, did find the end zone twice within the final 8 minutes though, as they avoided the shutout after touchdowns from Tre Siggers, and a Mordecai touchdown pass to Rashee Rice, cutting the Bearcats lead to 48-14 late in the game.
Overall, the defense was dominant tonight as they didn’t make it easy for Tanner Mordecai, who is one of the top quarterbacks in the country in passing yards and the Bearcats held him to 66 yards and one touchdown tonight on 15 of 26 passing. Senior Curtis Brooks had a huge night as he recorded two sacks for a loss of 16 yards, with three tackles. Wilson Huber also had a huge day for the Bearcats as he is the Bearcats do it all guy, as he is a weapon on special teams as well as a hybrid style linebacker. Huber blocked a punt early in the second quarter that gave the Bearcats great field position starting at the Mustang 25 yard line before Jerome Ford capped the drive off with a touchdown run. Huber, also had a big sack early in the game on third down to set the Bearcats up with great field position once again. Jowon Briggs also had a huge night as he stepped in for Malik Vann who was limited tonight with an injury, showed why many teams were after him in the transfer portal this offseason, but ultimately decided to come home to Cincinnati. Briggs finished with six tackles on the night in his first career start for the Bearcats, and was making it very hard for Tanner Mordecai to get comfortable in the pocket as Briggs brings such a big presence to the defensive line along side with Myjai Sanders.
The Bearcats dominated on the offensive side as Desmond Ridder capped off his senior day his first play from scrimmage being a 53 yard touchdown pass to Tyler Scott. Ridder finished the day with five total touchdowns as he went 17-of-23 passing with 274 yards, three touchdowns in the air, as well as a 40 yard touchdown run on 4th and 1. Oh, yeah he also caught his first career touchdown pass after the Bearcats pulled a play out of the Eagles play book and drew up the “Cincinnati Special” as Jordan Jones found ridder for a 5 yard touchdown catch in the front of the end zone. The senior had a very impressive senior day as it could potentially be his last game at Nippert Stadium and he went out with a bang to say the least. Ridder, is now 42-5 as a starter at the University of Cincinnati, and has led the Bearcats to 26 straight victories at Nippert Stadium, as he is the most active winningest quarterback in all of college football. The Bearcats also got big performances from Jerome Ford as he was back after missing last weeks game vs USF, and finished with 20 carries, for 82 yards, and a TD. Tre Tucker stepped in for senior wide receiver Michael Young, Jr., as he didn’t see the field tonight due to an injury, Tucker finished with seven catches for 114 yards tonight as him and Ridder were really connecting tonight. Tyler Scott finished with five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown. Alec Pierce had three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns, as the Pierce and Ridder connection continues to be a big factor for the Bearcats on offense.
The Bearcats got a huge win as they dominated from the jump after a complete showing on all three phases of the game, from offense, defense and special teams. The Bearcats beat a high powered SMU team that was held to just 199 yards of offense compared to the Bearcats 544 yards of offense. The Bearcats played a complete game as they dominated SMU 48-14 and improved their winning streak at Nippert Stadium to 26 straight games, which caps off 4 straight years of being undefeated at Nippert Stadium.
The Bearcats will be back in action this Friday as they travel to East Carolina University to take on the ECU Pirates at 3:30 pm for a Friday afternoon kickoff as they look to improve to 12-0. The Bearcats have clinched a spot in the AAC Championship game with tonight’s 48-14 victory over SMU. The Bearcats will host the AAC Championship if they remain ranked higher than Houston.
