TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati football team kicked off its 139th season with a 34-15 win vs. Boston College on Saturday.
On a hot and sunny day at Historic Nippert Stadium and in front of Cincinnati football alumni including the Kelce brothers (Jason and Travis), Connor Barwin, and Brent Celek, the Bearcats extended their home opener winning streak to 25 games. It’s the second-longest active streak in the nation.
“I want to just start out with the atmosphere,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “I thought it was an awesome atmosphere when we kicked the game off. I know it was hot today. It's been hot all week, and but it was great to see that atmosphere out there today, and particularly the students. Our students are incredible in that end zone over there.”
Quarterback JC French IV, making his first start for the Bearcats, rushed for three scores while Cincinnati native Gi’Bran Payne, making his UC debut as well, paved the way rushing for a career-high 108 yards on 14 carries. French also threw a touchdown to JV Gibson, who was Cincinnati’s leading receiver with four catches and 54 yards.
Led by Payne, the offense ran for 254 yards on 46 carries on Saturday. Five different players rushed for at least 20 yards.
Operating under new defensive coordinator Nate Woody, the Bearcats held Boston College scoreless in the first half and allowed them to convert just 4-of-13 third down opportunities. Cincinnati logged eight tackles for loss as well and forced two turnovers, both credited to MJ Cannon. The first-year Bearcat forced a fumble and collected an interception as well.
“This was a complimentary win in all three phases: offense, defense, and special teams,” Satterfield said. “Thinking about kicking, Stephen [Rusnak] knocked down two long field goals. I think it was a career-long 54-yarder, and Max [Fletcher] had the big fourth-down conversion on the fake punt. Huge day for the defense creating two turnovers there in the second half. That's huge. And the offense running the football like they did, obviously leaning on the offensive line.”
Stephen Rusnak’s 54-yard field goal in the first quarter opened the scoring, and French registered his first rushing score in the second quarter to make it 10-0 at the half. The Bearcats’ quarterback rushed for another TD and threw for one in the third quarter to open up a 24-0 lead before the Eagles spoiled the shutout late in the period.
Rusnak added another field goal in the fourth quarter and French rushed for his third score in the fourth quarter, and a late BC touchdown put the ledger at 34-15, which held as the final.
First Quarter
The new look defense, which included six starters who did not start a game for the Bearcats last year, got off to a strong start. Simeon Coleman’s tackle for loss on third down forced BC to punt on its opening possession. Cincinnati local RB Gi’Bran Payne broke off a 31-yard run on Cincinnati’s opening drive to set the Bearcats offense up in field goal range before sixth year kicker Stephen Rusnak booted in a 54-yard field goal to score the first points of the season, matching his career long.
Second Quarter
A 13-play scoring drive ended with a four-yard touchdown toss from JC French to JV Gibson, increasing UC’s lead to 10-0. The drive was kept alive with a little trickery, with Malachi Henry completing an eight-yard pass to Max Fletcher on a fake punt play on UC’s own 39-yard line. Boston College had a chance to get on the board in the closing moments of the first half, but a 33-yard field goal attempt missed left. The Eagles had first-and-ten from the 17-yard line, but the Bearcats stopped them on three consecutive pass plays before the missed kick.
Third Quarter
Cincinnati made it 17-0 on its opening drive of the second half, with French’s four-yard scamper into the end zone capping a 10-play drive. Cole Tabb rushed for 33 yards on the drive, including a 19-yard run on third down. The first turnover of the game came at the 8:34 mark of the quarter when MJ Cannon punched the ball out of Brady Clough’s grasp and Jacob Finley recovered it at the 45-yard line. French added his second rushing TD of the game with 5:39 left in the period, increasing Cincinnati’s lead to 24-0. Boston College’s first score of the game was a 4-yard rushing score by Evan Dickens, and the ensuing two-point conversion attempt was successful to put the score at 24-8.
Fourth Quarter
Boston College opened the final quarter at its own 4-yard line and methodically drove down the field, getting as close as UC’s 3-yard line. The drive ended on a fourth-down sack from Filip Maciorowski, leaving the Eagles without points after 15 plays. With 5:00 to go in the game, Rusnak booted a 44-yard field goal to make it 27-8 and French’s third touchdown made it 34-8. BC added a touchdown with 1:02 to play to make the score 34-15, which would hold as the final.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati stays home to play a “Nippert at Night” game next Saturday at 7:00 p.m. vs. Western Carolina on ESPN+