TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati football team overcame a 28-7 halftime deficit on Saturday to claim a 35-31 win against rival Miami (Ohio) at TQL Stadium.
The 129th edition of the Battle for the Victory Bell was one of the most thrilling matchups in the history of the rivalry, with Cole Tabb’s 53-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter putting an exclamation point on Cincinnati’s victory.
The 21-point comeback was the largest for the Bearcats since overcoming a 21-0 deficit against Ohio on Sept. 22, 2018.
"It was a tale of two halves. The first half, Miami played great, we did not play so great. In the second half, our guys came out and played a really nice second half," head coach Scott Sattefield shared in his postgame press conference. "They came right out for the opening kickoff and took it all the way with the little fake reverse. That kid can run as fast, which we knew were coming in, and they did a great job to start the first half. And I thought they just kept that momentum the whole first half. We really didn't do anything good on offense, defense, or special teams in the first half. To our guys' credit, in the second half they regrouped, went out with a with a purpose and a plan to go out and grab the second half, take it one game or one play at a time, and we're going to be aggressive."
Miami (Ohio) jumped out early, taking a commanding 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. RedHawks returner Scoop Smith took the opening kickoff back 98 yards for a touchdown, and following a quick three-and-out, Miami struck again on a 12-yard touchdown run by Lazaro Rogers. The RedHawks led 28-7 at the half.
Cincinnati outscored Miami 28-3 in the second half and outgained the RedHawks, 280-163. Tabb had two second-half rushing touchdowns, with his 53-yarder with 1:29 to play clinching the game. Miami got the ball back with 1:29 to go and reached the UC 33-yard line, but Antwan Peek Jr.’s strip sack was recovered by Drew Logan to ice the game.
Peek led the defense with nine tackles and two forced fumbles. On offense, Tabb’s 78 rushing yards and two scores paced the backfield, while JC French threw for 309 yards and two TDs while rushing for another score.
"I thought our guys didn't panic," said Satterfied. "You could see how poised they were on the field when they were making plays, and that's what you want to see when things are not going good. You're not going to start pointing fingers, you're just going to keep playing. It's a mature team, and I think we kind of knew that the way these guys practice each and every day when we're around them. They just proved it today for everybody to see.”
First Quarter
Cincinnati settled into the game on its second offensive drive after spotting Miami a quick 14 points by marching 10 plays and 75 yards on a drive which was capped by a Cole Tabb 1-yard touchdown run to answer Miami’s attack. Tabb set up the score up himself on a 17-yard reception from quarterback JC French IV in which he reached for the pylon and after review was down at the Miami 1-yardline.
Second Quarter
The RedHawks extended their lead with a methodical 10-play, 91-yard drive that took 6:20 off the clock. Miami quarterback David McComb capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 21-7 with 5:52 remaining in the second quarter.
Cincinnati moved into field goal range late in the second quarter, but Stephen Rusnak’s 52-yard attempt fell short with less than two minutes left in the half. The RedHawks capitalized quickly, as McComb connected with Maleek Huggins on a 36-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing drive to take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.
Third Quarter
Trailing 21 and desperately needing momentum, Cincinnati got a spark on the RedHawks' opening drive of the second half. Miami attempted a 36-yard field goal, but kicker Kellan McLaughlin’s attempt struck the back of his lineman’s helmet, giving the Bearcats defense a critical stop.
Capitalizing on the shift, Cincinnati pushed the tempo. French hit wide receiver Larenzo Fenner down the left sideline for a 38-yard gain to reach the red zone. A few plays later, French punched in a 1-yard quarterback sneak to trim the deficit to 28-14 with 7:27 left in the third quarter. The Bearcats defense returned to the field needing stops, and delivered a crucial game-changing play as cornerback Kenny Worthy intercepted McComb on a diving catch at Miami’s own 31-yard line, giving the Bearcats offense prime field position.
Cincinnati answered again, scoring its 14th straight unanswered point on an 8-yard touchdown pass from French to Tabb — his second score of the afternoon. The seven-play, 31-yard drive consumed 3:12 and pulled the Bearcats within one score at 28-21 late in the third quarter.
The RedHawks offense responded quickly as McComb launched a 50-yard pass to Huggins along the left sideline down to the Cincinnati 34-yard line. A roughing the passer penalty on the Bearcats added 15 yards to the play, placing Miami in immediate scoring position. Inside the 10-yard line, Bearcats defenders Antwan Peek Jr. and Damaine Wilson forced fumbles on back-to-back plays, but Miami recovered both as the third quarter came to a close.
Fourth Quarter
Facing 3rd-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the Bearcats defense stood tall to force a short field goal attempt as RedHawks head coach Chuck Martin elected to kick to make it a two-score game instead of going for it from the one-yard line. Miami’s McLaughlin converted the 18-yard chip shot to extend the RedHawks' lead back to two scores at 31-21 with 13:51 in the game.
Cincinnati was dealt a setback when French was strip sacked at his own 41-yard line by Miami’s Grant Lyons and Roosevelt Andrews pounced on the loose ball to give the RedHawks first-down possession at the Cincinnati 41. Cincinnati’s defense continued to live up the billing in the second half forcing a 45-yard field goal attempt which was no good, following a sack for a loss of 12 yards from Josh Hough a few plays prior.
Cincinnati’s offensive struck again for its third second-half touchdown as the furious comeback continued as French connected with wide receiver JV Gibson, wide open in the back right corner of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown to get within three points, 31-28 with 6:20 to go in the game. It was the third consecutive week French and Gibson hooked up for a touchdown.
Miami converted a third-and-long on its next drive, but UC’s defense held firm and forced the RedHawks to punt. The Bearcats got the ball back with 3:46 to go. French found tight end Gavin Grover over the middle on a fourth-and-two to keep the drive alive, and then Tabb ran it 53 yards to the house to give UC its first lead of the day, 35-31. Peek’s strip sack with 36 seconds left was recovered by Drew Logan and ended the game.
UP NEXT
Big 12 play begins for Cincinnati next Saturday, Sept. 26 against Kansas State at home. The Bearcats and Wildcats will do battle at Historic Nippert Stadium at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2.