The Cincinnati Bearcats, led by Luke Fickell, opened up their 2019 season by hosting the UCLA Bruins, led by Chip Kelly, on Thursday night. In front of a crowd of 38,032 at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats did not disappoint their eager fans. The Bearcats, for the second season in a row, opened their season with a win over Pac-12 opponent UCLA.
4 parachuters, with Cincinnati Bearcat and American flags, landed inside Nippert Stadium during the playing of the National Anthem. The crowd was loud and eager to kick off the 2019 campaign. It looked like a sea of red and black. The student section set the tone.
Cincinnati, wearing their all black uniforms, kicked off to UCLA, sporting their white uniforms with gold helmets to start the game. UCLA marched down the field to the Cincinnati 6 yard line when Dorian Thompson-Robinson, quarterback, fumbled the ball at the Bearcat 6 yard line. The crowd erupted as the defense came up with the turnover. Both teams had several penalties early on. With 7:09 left in the first quarter, Desmond Ridder hit tight end Josiah Deguara for a touchdown to give UC the early 7-0 lead.
The Bearcats kicked a field goal with 9:13 on the clock in the second quarter to take a 10-0 lead. UCLA responded a minute late with a 75 yard pass to wide-receiver #10 Demetric Felton. With 4:15 remaining in the first half, running back Gerrid Doaks fumbled the ball giving UCLA life. The defense came up big on a 3rd and 17 and forced a punt to stop the UCLA momentum. It appeared UC would close out the first half with a score but Desmond Ridder threw an interception on the UCLA 2 yard line. The game went the half with Cincinnati holding a 10-7 lead.
Michael Warren II rushed for a 12 yard touchdown with 11:44 on the clock in the 3rd quarter to give UC a 17-7 lead. Cincinnati was clearly dominating the game, in time of possession and yardage, but penalties and turnovers kept UCLA in the picture. UC took a 24-14 lead early in the 4th quarter as Desmond Ridder hit Michael Warren II for his second touchdown of the game. The defense locked down in the 4th quarter to preserve the 24-14 victory. The Bearcats travel to Columbus, Ohio next week to take on the nationally ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
CIN Passing TD
7:09 - Josiah Deguara 16 yd pass from Desmond Ridder (Sam Crosa made PAT)
CIN FG
9:13 - Sam Crosa 44 yd FG
UCLA Passing TD
8:23 - Demetric Felton 75 yd pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (JJ Molson made PAT)
CIN Rushing TD
11:44 - Michael Warren II 12 yd run (Sam Crosa made PAT)
UCLA Passing TD
5:40 - Chase Cota 7 yd pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson (JJ Molson made PAT)
CIN Passing TD
14:51 - Michael Warren II 21 yd pass from Desmond Ridder (Sam Crosa made PAT)
UCLA
CINCINNATI
FIRST DOWNS
12
23
Rushing
4
11
Passing
5
12
Penalty
3
0
NET YARDS RUSHING
62 175
Rushing Attempts
36
49
Average Per Rush
1.7 3.6
Rushing Touchdowns
0 1
Yards Gained Rushing
113 196
Yards Lost Rushing
51 21
NET YARDS PASSING
156 242
Completions-Attempts-Int 8-26-2
18-26-1
Average Per Attempt
6 9.3
Average Per Completion
19.5 13.4
Passing Touchdowns
2 2
TOTAL OFFENSIVE YARDS 218
417
Total offensive plays
62 75
Average Gain Per Play
3.5 5.6
Fumbles: Number-Lost
2-2 1-1
Penalties: Number-Yards
9-60 10-63
PUNTS-YARDS
5-228 4-180
Average Yards Per Punt
45.6 45.0
Net Yards Per Punt
36.6 40.0
Inside 20
0
1
50+ Yards
1
1
Touchbacks
1
1
Fair catch
2
2
KICKOFFS-YARDS
3-195 5-255
Average Yards Per Kickoff
65 51
Net Yards Per Kickoff
61 45.4
Touchbacks
2
2
Punt returns: Number-Yards-TD 0-0-0
1-25-0
Average Per Return
0
25
Kickoff returns: Number-Yards-TD 1-12-0
1-28-0
Average Per Return
12 28
Interceptions: Number-Yards-TD 1-66-0
2-15-0
Fumble Returns: Number-Yards 1-0
2-0
Miscellaneous Yards
0
0
Possession Time
21:33 38:27
1st Quarter
05:13
09:47
2nd Quarter
04:42
10:18
3rd Quarter
04:25
10:35
4th Quarter
07:13
07:47
Third-Down Conversions 6 of 15
8 of 16
Fourth-Down Conversions 0 of 1
0 of 1
Red Zone Scores-Chances 1 of 3
3 of 6
Touchdowns
1
3
Field Goals
0 of 0 0 of
1
Sacks By: Number-Yards
1-8 2-18
PAT Kicks
2-2
3-3
Field Goals
0 of 0 1 of
2
Points off turnovers
0
0
UCLA
Rushing No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
Felton, D 23 78 7 71 0 10 3.1
Irby, Martell 3 11 0 11 0 7 3.7
Thmpsn-Robinson 10 24 44 -20 0 7 -2
Totals 36 113 51 62 0 10 1.7
CINCINNATI
Rushing No. Gain Loss Net TD Lg Avg
WARREN, Michael 26 99 7 92 1 15 3.5
DOAKS, Gerrid 10 53 0 53 0 14 5.3
RIDDER, Desmond 9 42 8 34 0 15 3.8
MONTGOMERY, R. 1 2 0 2 0 2 2
Team 3 0 6 -6 0 0 -2
Totals 49 196 21 175 1 15 3.6
UCLA
Passing C-A-I Yds TD Long Sack
Thmpsn-Robinson 8-26-2 156 2 75 2
Totals 8-26-2 156 2 75 2
CINCINNATI
Passing C-A-I Yds TD Long Sack
RIDDER, Desmond 18-26-1 242 2 52 1
Totals 18-26-1 242 2 52 1
UCLA
Receiving No. Yards TD Long Tgt
Erwin, Jaylen 3 37 0 39 6
Felton, D 2 91 1 75 3
Dulcich, Greg 1 14 0 14 1
Irby, Martell 1 7 0 7 2
Cota, Chase 1 7 1 7 4
Totals 8 156 2 75 24
CINCINNATI
Receiving No. Yards TD Long Tgt
DEGUARA, Josiah 4 53 1 16 5
JACKSON, J. 3 36 0 17 4
WARREN, Michael 3 27 1 21 3
GEDDIS, Thomas 3 25 0 11 7
PIERCE, Alec 2 59 0 52 2
MEDARIS, Rashad 2 23 0 15 3
WHYLE, Josh 1 19 0 19 1
Totals 18 242 2 52 25
UCLA
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
Lees, Wade 5 228 45.6 72 0 1
Totals 5 228 45.6 72 0 1
CINCINNATI
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20 TB
SMITH, James 4 180 45.0 59 1 1
Totals 4 180 45.0 59 1 1
UCLA
Punt Kickoff Intercept Returns No. Yds Lg No. Yds Lg No. Yds Lg
Shaw, Jay 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 66 66
Felton, D 0 0 0 1 12 12 0 0 0
Totals 0 0 0 1 12 12 1 66 66
CINCINNATI
Punt Kickoff Intercept Returns
No. Yds Lg No. Yds Lg No. Yds Lg
TUCKER, Tre 0 0 0 1 28 28 0 0 0
HICKS, Ja'Von 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 15 15
YOUNG, Perry 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
MONTGOMERY, R. 1 25 25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Totals 1 25 25 1 28 28 2 15 15
UCLA
Field goals Qtr Time Dist Result
0
CINCINNATI
Field goals Qtr Time Dist Result
CROSA, Sam 1st 01:07 32 yards missed CROSA, Sam 2nd 09:13 44 yards good
UCLA
Kickoffs No. Yards Avg TB OB
Molson, JJ 3 195 yards 65 2 0
CINCINNATI
Kickoffs No. Yards Avg TB OB
JONES, Ryan 5 255 yards 51 2 0
UCLA
All-purpose Run Rcv KR PR IR Total
Felton, D 71 91 12 0 0 174
Shaw, Jay 0 0 0 0 66 66
Erwin, Jaylen 0 37 0 0 0 37
Irby, Martell 11 7 0 0 0 18
CINCINNATI
All-purpose Run Rcv KR PR IR Total
WARREN, Michael 92 27 0 0 0 119
PIERCE, Alec 0 59 0 0 0 59
DOAKS, Gerrid 53 0 0 0 0 53
DEGUARA, Josiah 0 53 0 0 0 53
FUMBLES: UCLA- Thmpsn-Robinson 2-2 . Cincinnati- DOAKS, Gerrid 1-1