TicketsCINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team fell to No. 11 BYU, 26-14, in its home finale at Nippert Stadium on Saturday night.
"BYU is the 11th ranked team coming in here," head coach Scott Satterfield said. "We went toe-to-toe with those guys. We did not play our best ball. We missed three field goals, and we had a fourth-and-one inside the 5 we didn’t get ... Respect to BYU, and we just came up short tonight. To me, it's about the execution ... But I thought our guys came out and eagerly wanted to go out and get a win tonight against a good team."
Trailing 20-7 midway through the fourth quarter, senior receiver Cyrus Allen fumbled in the red zone, and BYU had a chance to pull away. However, the Bearcats’ defense forced a punt and Sorsby led UC on an eight-play, 86-yard drive, finding Jeff Caldwell on a 19-yard slant for a touchdown that brought UC within 20-14 and breathing life into the home team with 4:37 left.
BYU bled the clock on its final drive and made it a two-possession game in the final minute with a 33-yard run.
The Bearcats, who that morning hosted FOX's Big Noon Kickoff, celebrated Senior Night and honored 22 seniors, including three-time team captains Gavin Gerhardt, who tied the UC record for starts at center with his 47th, and two-time All-America nose tackle Dontay “The Godfather” Corleone.
"That was the best experience I've ever had here in Nippert," Satterfield said. "It was incredible, starting with all the things that we had to do today with the Big Noon Kickoff. A lot of things happened around our campus today. Our students were out in full force. It was a great atmosphere. It was big-time college football today, and I appreciate everybody. That is what college football is all about."
Redshirt junior quarterback Brendan Sorsby finished 23-of-38 for 300 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He recorded 38 yards rushing on eight carries.
The Bearcats moved the ball all night, punting only once, but were doomed by three missed field goals, a failed fourth-and-inches at the BYU 3-yard line and two second-half turnovers.
First Quarter
BYU drew first blood when quarterback Bear Bachmeier plunged into the end zone from six yards to cap a 10-play, 50-yard drive at the 4:39 mark in the first quarter.
Senior running back Tawee Walker took a direct snap and bulldozed his way for a 4th-and-1 conversion from UC’s own 34. Redshirt junior Evan Pryor sprinted 28 yards past midfield, but Walker was stopped on another fourth-and-1 a few plays later – at BYU’s 3-yard line.
Second Quarter
With BYU pinned back, the Cincinnati defense forced a three-and-out on the next possession. BYU’s punt traveled 39 yards giving Cincinnati great field position, but Cincinnati senior kicker Stephen Rusnak’s 42-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
After forcing a BYU punt, Covey picked the punt on the run and returned it a season-long 37 years. Sorsby lofted a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Cyrus Allen on the next play to tie the game 7-7.
Third Quarter
The Bearcats received the ball to start the third quarter, but gave the ball right back to the Cougars when Sorsby’s third-down heave was picked off by BYU safety Tanner Wall.
BYU went ahead 17-7 when Martin punched in a 1-yard touchdown at the 8:26 mark in the third quarter, capping an 11-play, 66-yard drive. The Cougars overcame a nine-yard loss on a running play that was stuffed by UC star linebacker Jake Golday. However, BYU kept the drive alive when cornerback Matthew McDoom was called for a 15-yard face-mask penalty on the next play.
Fourth Quarter
After Rusnak’s third missed field goal – this one from 48 yards – BYU ate up 6:06 of the clock on a 12-play, 56-yard drive that culminated with a 32-yard field goal from Ferrin to put the visitors up two scores, 20-7, with 14:07 left in the game.
Cincinnati converted a fourth-and-2 from its own 33-yard line when Sorsby zipped a pass to Caleb Goodie to keep the drive alive. However, Allen was called for a fumble after a catch in the red zone – following a lengthy review.
The Bearcats forced the Cougars to punt following the turnover and Sorsby found Covey leaking along the sideline for a 37-yard catch to give UC first-and-10 from the BYU 15 with just over five minutes remaining. After a false start pushed the Bearcats back, Sorsby zipped a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Caldwell running a slant on third-and-14 with 4:37 left.
BYU bled the clock on its final drive and made it a two-possession game in the final minute with a 33-yard run.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati caps the regular season at TCU on Saturday. The game time and network have not been announced.
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