OHIO BOBCATS vs CINCINNATI BEARCATS
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Nippert Stadium 09/22/18 Cincinnati, OH.
Photos By: Toby Clark
Desmond Ridder led a remarkable 92-yard fourth-quarter drive, resulting in the Bearcats taking the lead, and the defense sealed the deal by stopping Ohio at the 1-yard line with 52 seconds left, thanks to James Wiggins' interception, leading Cincinnati to a 34-30 victory on Saturday. Michael Warren's 3-yard run fueled the Bearcats' comeback from a three-touchdown deficit, giving Cincinnati its fourth consecutive win and matching the team's win totals from the previous two seasons.
Bearcats coach Luke Fickell praised his team's resilience, saying, "I'm most proud of the way they kept their chin up, especially the way it happened. We wouldn't have had a chance last year." Nathan Rourke, Ohio's quarterback, frustrated Cincinnati in the first half by building a 24-7 lead. He finished with a team-leading 96 yards rushing, 178 yards passing, and drew three roughing-the-passer penalties.
The second half was a different story. Fickell watched his defense step up and hold Rourke and the Bobcats to a pair of field goals, which led to Cincinnati's comeback victory. "It was a hard-fought football game," Ohio coach Frank Solich said. "There were two good football teams out there playing. The game just went back-and-forth."
The Bearcats' victory marked the first meeting between the two intrastate rivals in 36 years, and Cincinnati grabbed a 24-23 lead in the series that includes four ties. Rourke is in the top 10 all-time in passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes for Ohio, while Ridder, a freshman, suffered his first turnover as a Bearcat, and Cincinnati has turned the ball over just four times this season.
Review By: Todd Clark
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTER
08:40 OHIO A.J. Ouellette 9 Yd Run (Louie Zervos Kick) 7 plays, 84 yards
00:23 OHIO Maleek Irons 12 Yd pass from Nathan Rourke (Louie Zervos Kick) 10 plays, 64 yards
SECOND QUARTER
11:12 OHIO Nathan Rourke 3 Yd Run (Louie Zervos Kick) 7 plays, 51 yards
05:44 CIN Michael Warren II 24 Yd Run (Cole Smith Kick) 9 plays, 80 yards
00:30 OHIO Louie Zervos 25 Yd Field Goal 11 plays, 73 yards
THIRD QUARTER
13:42 OHIO Rashad Medaris 77 Yd pass from Desmond Ridder (Cole Smith Kick) 3 plays, 75 yards
08:38 OHIO Louie Zervos 33 Yd Field Goal 7 plays, 44 yards
03:31 CIN Desmond Ridder 7 Yd Run (Cole Smith Kick) 4 plays, 28 yards
FOURTH QUARTER
14:55 OHIO Louie Zervos 47 Yd Field Goal 8 plays, 28 yards
12:37 CIN Jayshon Jackson 26 Yd pass from Desmond Ridder (Cole Smith Kick) 5 plays, 71 yards
03:24 CIN Michael Warren II 3 Yd Run (Two-Point Run Conversion Failed) 13 plays, 92 yards