TicketsLosing stinks. Losing Week 1 stinks more. Losing Week 1 on the heels of the season Cincinnati had last year might stink the most.
Games against FCS opponents rarely feel important. Last year the Bearcats played Murray State in a game that was practically a sideshow to a Big 12 party. But Saturday's game against Kennesaw State felt important, if for nothing else than washing out that stink.
This team is better than it showed a week ago in Fayetteville, and they were anxious to prove so. We, as fans, have more to be excited about than we showed a week ago, and we were anxious to prove that as well. The bad taste is gone, to the tune of a 63-10 Bearcats victory and a riotous crowd of 39,014 through the gates of Nippert Stadium.
Ben Bryant was electric, completing 17 of 20 passes for 201 yards and throwing three touchdowns in the Bearcats' first four drives. And it wasn't just easy work either; the QB made a handful of gorgeous throws, both over the middle on a pretty alley-oop to Josh Whyle for the game's first touchdown and the boundary on a perfect 30-yard dime to Will Pauling that set up the game's second score. Bryant's 85% completion rate was the best by a Cincinnati quarterback since Brendon Kay against Northwestern State in 2013.
And if you're a fan of rushing yards, the Bearcats delivered that as well, racking up 260 yards on just 30 carries and spreading touchdowns to four ball carriers, including a couple of late haymakers from Evan Prater and Myles Montgomery.
The defense continued to flex its muscles, putting the lid on a good Kennesaw State triple-option attack and holding the Owls to fewer than 150 rushing yards—something no team had managed in Kennesaw State's last 73 games.
The Cincinnati defense outscored the Owls offense 14-10 thanks to a scoop and score from Jabari Taylor and a pick-six from Ja'Von Hicks. The beauty of Cincinnati's roster turnover is the emergence of new stars. I get happy hearing names like Ivan Pace Jr., Dontay Corleone, and Ryan Mullaney called over the PA. This feels like a fresh bunch of football players for the first time in a few years, but they continue to deliver just like the guys who graduated.
In a quiet moment before the game, Connor Boyle—the purveyor of so much of the magic fans saw on the videoboard during the game—remarked on how special game day is from our side. Fans pouring into Clifton. Pallets of beer being wheeled around the stadium. The hard work of so many people coming to fruition. We've waited a long time to be back at Nippert Stadium. It's a feeling unlike anything else to see things fall into place, and that's as true on the field as it is off it.
Losing stinks, but the Bearcats have the luxury of having everything in front of them. If Saturday's game is an indication, there's plenty more where that came from and plenty of support to go with it. Up Next The Bearcats take America's shortest road trip Saturday for the 126th Battle for the Victory Bell. Cincinnati will be the visiting team at downtown Paycor Stadium. It's UC's first game at the home of the Cincinnati Bengals since a 14-0 victory over Miami in 2018. This meeting has a special significance, as the oldest non-conference rivalry in the country is deadlocked at 59-59-7. A win would give the Bearcats their first series lead since 1915.
TICKETS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME ARE AVAILABLE NOW.
The Bearcats return to Nippert Stadium on September 24 to face Indiana. Tickets to that game are sold out but can be found through StubHub––our official secocondary ticket provider––HERE. Read More
Games against FCS opponents rarely feel important. Last year the Bearcats played Murray State in a game that was practically a sideshow to a Big 12 party. But Saturday's game against Kennesaw State felt important, if for nothing else than washing out that stink.
This team is better than it showed a week ago in Fayetteville, and they were anxious to prove so. We, as fans, have more to be excited about than we showed a week ago, and we were anxious to prove that as well. The bad taste is gone, to the tune of a 63-10 Bearcats victory and a riotous crowd of 39,014 through the gates of Nippert Stadium.
Hey @BearcatsRuckus, let's go 🗣️ DOWN THE DRIVE pic.twitter.com/nFDzeg4Ply
— Cincinnati Bearcats (@GoBEARCATS) September 10, 2022
Ben Bryant was electric, completing 17 of 20 passes for 201 yards and throwing three touchdowns in the Bearcats' first four drives. And it wasn't just easy work either; the QB made a handful of gorgeous throws, both over the middle on a pretty alley-oop to Josh Whyle for the game's first touchdown and the boundary on a perfect 30-yard dime to Will Pauling that set up the game's second score. Bryant's 85% completion rate was the best by a Cincinnati quarterback since Brendon Kay against Northwestern State in 2013.
And if you're a fan of rushing yards, the Bearcats delivered that as well, racking up 260 yards on just 30 carries and spreading touchdowns to four ball carriers, including a couple of late haymakers from Evan Prater and Myles Montgomery.
The defense continued to flex its muscles, putting the lid on a good Kennesaw State triple-option attack and holding the Owls to fewer than 150 rushing yards—something no team had managed in Kennesaw State's last 73 games.
The Cincinnati defense outscored the Owls offense 14-10 thanks to a scoop and score from Jabari Taylor and a pick-six from Ja'Von Hicks. The beauty of Cincinnati's roster turnover is the emergence of new stars. I get happy hearing names like Ivan Pace Jr., Dontay Corleone, and Ryan Mullaney called over the PA. This feels like a fresh bunch of football players for the first time in a few years, but they continue to deliver just like the guys who graduated.
BIG BARI‼️#Bearcats | @bARi5_ pic.twitter.com/STbxIJAGdd
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) September 10, 2022
In a quiet moment before the game, Connor Boyle—the purveyor of so much of the magic fans saw on the videoboard during the game—remarked on how special game day is from our side. Fans pouring into Clifton. Pallets of beer being wheeled around the stadium. The hard work of so many people coming to fruition. We've waited a long time to be back at Nippert Stadium. It's a feeling unlike anything else to see things fall into place, and that's as true on the field as it is off it.
Losing stinks, but the Bearcats have the luxury of having everything in front of them. If Saturday's game is an indication, there's plenty more where that came from and plenty of support to go with it. Up Next The Bearcats take America's shortest road trip Saturday for the 126th Battle for the Victory Bell. Cincinnati will be the visiting team at downtown Paycor Stadium. It's UC's first game at the home of the Cincinnati Bengals since a 14-0 victory over Miami in 2018. This meeting has a special significance, as the oldest non-conference rivalry in the country is deadlocked at 59-59-7. A win would give the Bearcats their first series lead since 1915.
TICKETS FOR SATURDAY'S GAME ARE AVAILABLE NOW.
The Bearcats return to Nippert Stadium on September 24 to face Indiana. Tickets to that game are sold out but can be found through StubHub––our official secocondary ticket provider––HERE. Read More