TicketsBOSTON – The Cincinnati football team fell to Louisville, 24-7, on Saturday at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl in the first-ever bowl game played at Fenway Park, the historic home of the Boston Red Sox.
The Cardinals had seven sacks and featured two 100-yard rushers in rainy, cold conditions. Cincinnati forced four turnovers, but were unable to capitalize on the offensive end.
The Bearcats were playing without several starters and contributors who had opted out or entered the transfer portal following the transitional three weeks since former head coach Luke Fickell departed and Kerry Coombs was named the interim head coach. Still, the Bearcats never gave up, forcing three of its turnovers in the final frame.
"What should be remembered about this team, particularly those finishing their careers, those men have given [the younger players] a demonstration on how to be a man and how to be a champion," Coombs said after the game. "How to fight, scratch and claw. They came back and they fought. They had three one-score losses during the course of the regular season. All they did was keep showing up every day and working for each other. It was always about the team. Those kids have given the younger players something to live up to -- in their manhood, how to conduct yourself and how to be a real man and Bearcat... I promise you this, I will count these two weeks as two of the greatest weeks of my life. To be able to have the opportunity to stand with them and fight with them, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Didn't go the way we wanted. These are men's men, and it was a privilege."
Junior Ethan Wright moved back to running back after playing safety much of the season. He was the Bearcats' top offensive weapon, logging eight carries for 43 yards.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Evan Prater made his second career start and finished 7-of-15 for 83 yards and a touchdown pass to walk-on senior receiver Wyatt Fisher.
All-American linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. totaled 16 tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
A back-and-forth first quarter that featured multiple turnovers ended with Louisville scoring the game's first touchdown on a 49-yard run by Jawhar Jordan.
The UC offense got rolling early in the second quarter. After Wright picked up a 4th-and-1 first down, Prater zipped a 23-yard pass to senior Blue Smith to the 20. On the next play, Prater appeared to be wrapped up for a sack, but he incredibly found Fischer five yards up the field while falling to the ground. The walk-on wide receiver turned, evaded several tackles and found the end zone for his first career touchdown, tying the game 7-7 at the 10:58 mark in the second quarter.
The Bearcats couldn't get much else to work in the first half on offense. The Cardinals took advantage. Domann found tight end Marshon Ford for an 8-yard touchdown and Jordan sprinted through the line for his second touchdown, a 41-yarder, 42 seconds before halftime.
Cincinnati redshirt freshman Brady Lichtenberg earned his first snaps at quarterback, beginning the second half and playing three snaps before Prater returned under center the next series.
Louisville had a 14-play, 38-yard drive that ended with a 48-yard field goal by James Turner that put the Cardinals ahead, 24-7, at the four-minute mark in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman Armorion Smith recorded his first career interception on a Louisville trick play on a throw by wide receiver Braden Smith.
Senior safety Ja'Von Hicks also had an interception in the fourth quarter. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Ryan Mullaney recovered two fumbles, including one with five minutes remaining in the game.
Cincinnati will now turn its attention to 2023 season. Following a brief break, the Bearcats will begin their offseason program under new head coach Scott Satterfield and his staff.
The Cardinals had seven sacks and featured two 100-yard rushers in rainy, cold conditions. Cincinnati forced four turnovers, but were unable to capitalize on the offensive end.
The Bearcats were playing without several starters and contributors who had opted out or entered the transfer portal following the transitional three weeks since former head coach Luke Fickell departed and Kerry Coombs was named the interim head coach. Still, the Bearcats never gave up, forcing three of its turnovers in the final frame.
"What should be remembered about this team, particularly those finishing their careers, those men have given [the younger players] a demonstration on how to be a man and how to be a champion," Coombs said after the game. "How to fight, scratch and claw. They came back and they fought. They had three one-score losses during the course of the regular season. All they did was keep showing up every day and working for each other. It was always about the team. Those kids have given the younger players something to live up to -- in their manhood, how to conduct yourself and how to be a real man and Bearcat... I promise you this, I will count these two weeks as two of the greatest weeks of my life. To be able to have the opportunity to stand with them and fight with them, I wouldn't trade it for anything. Didn't go the way we wanted. These are men's men, and it was a privilege."
Junior Ethan Wright moved back to running back after playing safety much of the season. He was the Bearcats' top offensive weapon, logging eight carries for 43 yards.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Evan Prater made his second career start and finished 7-of-15 for 83 yards and a touchdown pass to walk-on senior receiver Wyatt Fisher.
All-American linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. totaled 16 tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
A back-and-forth first quarter that featured multiple turnovers ended with Louisville scoring the game's first touchdown on a 49-yard run by Jawhar Jordan.
The UC offense got rolling early in the second quarter. After Wright picked up a 4th-and-1 first down, Prater zipped a 23-yard pass to senior Blue Smith to the 20. On the next play, Prater appeared to be wrapped up for a sack, but he incredibly found Fischer five yards up the field while falling to the ground. The walk-on wide receiver turned, evaded several tackles and found the end zone for his first career touchdown, tying the game 7-7 at the 10:58 mark in the second quarter.
The Bearcats couldn't get much else to work in the first half on offense. The Cardinals took advantage. Domann found tight end Marshon Ford for an 8-yard touchdown and Jordan sprinted through the line for his second touchdown, a 41-yarder, 42 seconds before halftime.
Cincinnati redshirt freshman Brady Lichtenberg earned his first snaps at quarterback, beginning the second half and playing three snaps before Prater returned under center the next series.
Louisville had a 14-play, 38-yard drive that ended with a 48-yard field goal by James Turner that put the Cardinals ahead, 24-7, at the four-minute mark in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman Armorion Smith recorded his first career interception on a Louisville trick play on a throw by wide receiver Braden Smith.
Senior safety Ja'Von Hicks also had an interception in the fourth quarter. Redshirt junior defensive lineman Ryan Mullaney recovered two fumbles, including one with five minutes remaining in the game.
Cincinnati will now turn its attention to 2023 season. Following a brief break, the Bearcats will begin their offseason program under new head coach Scott Satterfield and his staff.