TicketsMORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Quarterback JC French IV threw for a career-high 389 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, but West Virginia’s Jack Cassidy kicked a 35-yard field goal as the clock expired to lift the Mountaineers past the Bearcats, 45-42, on Saturday at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The Bearcats (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) answered every West Virginia (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) tying score with a go-ahead score of their own, until the Mountaineers’ final drive. Cincinnati finished with 622 total yards, its highest output against an FBS opponent since last season’s game against Kansas.
French completed 22-of-30 passes for three touchdowns and added a rushing score. Running back Cole Tabb ran for 118 yards and had 54 receiving yards, scoring three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). It was his third three-touchdown game of the season and his second 100-yard rushing game.
“We were anticipating a back-and-forth game, and you have to get a stop,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “We kept scoring, and we needed to get a stop. If you get up two scores, then now you are feeling like you are playing with a great chance to win. It never happened today, and they held us. And then they went and scored, and that was the difference in the game.”
Fifth-year linebacker Jonathan Thompson had a career-high 15 tackles to lead a defense that slowed West Virginia’s Big 12-leading rushing attack. The Mountaineers entered averaging 295.5 rushing yards per game but were held to 134. Running back Cam Cook, who entered averaging a Big 12-best 132.2 yards per game, finished with 40 on the ground.
West Virginia kept pace through the air, as quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for a career-best 464 yards and three touchdowns.
After West Virginia tied the game, 42-42, with 3:44 left, Cincinnati went 3-and-out, but Max Fletcher’s punt pinned the Mountaineers at the 1-yard line. Backed up to his own 2-yard-line, Hawkins found Prince Strachan for a 41-yard gain on third-and-9 with just under two minutes left. Hawkins and Strachan connected again for 39 yards two plays later and WVU was able to bleed the clock out to set up the game-winning field goal.
First quarter
West Virginia won the coin toss and deferred, putting Cincinnati’s offense on the field first.
The Bearcats converted all three third-down attempts on the opening drive, highlighted by a career-long 25-yard scramble from French. He capped the 13-play, 75-yard drive, which took 6:07, with a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver JV Gibson.
After a West Virginia punt, French hit receiver Malachi Henry over the middle on the first play of the next drive, and Henry raced down the left sideline for a 69-yard gain, Cincinnati’s longest play from scrimmage this season.
The drive stalled inside the red zone. On third-and-1, French fumbled after a hit from a West Virginia defender, but Cincinnati recovered. One play later, French was stopped short on a fourth-and-1 quarterback keeper at the West Virginia 15-yard line.
Second quarter
West Virginia answered with a 10-play, 81-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown run from Hawkins to tie it at 7-7.
Cincinnati retook the lead, 14-7, when French found Isaiah Johnson on a jet-motion shovel pass that went for a 51-yard touchdown.
The Mountaineers responded again. Hawkins completed a fourth-and-3 pass for 43 yards to DJ Epps, setting up a 2-yard touchdown run by the quarterback to make it 14-14.
Cincinnati took over at its own 25-yard line and moved quickly. Tabb broke loose for a 28-yard touchdown run to cap a four-play, 75-yard drive.
West Virginia had one more chance before halftime, but Cassidy missed a 49-yard field goal, and the Bearcats took a 21-14 lead into the locker room. French threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.
Third quarter
West Virginia took the second-half kickoff and tied the game at 21-21 with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Hawkins to tight end Jarel Sapp.
Cincinnati punted on its next possession after French was sacked on third-and-13 following a penalty. The defense answered with a three-and-out. Chidera Otutu dropped Hawkins for a 5-yard loss on first down, and Patrick Bauer and Antwan Peek Jr. combined for a 9-yard sack on third down.
Fifth-year running back Zylan Perry powered the next drive, rushing three times for 27 yards and catching a 17-yard pass. French found Gibson for 19 yards on third-and-14 to keep the drive alive. After Gibson was stopped at the 1-yard line following a slant catch, French and Tabb were each stopped at the goal line on consecutive plays. On fourth-and-1, French’s quarterback sneak reached the end zone to give Cincinnati a 28-21 lead.
West Virginia countered with a six-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:43. Hawkins hit Epps for a 37-yard touchdown to make it 28-28, the fourth tie of the game.
Fourth quarter
Cincinnati responded again. French hit Gibson for nine yards on third down, and a West Virginia unnecessary roughness penalty moved the Bearcats into the red zone. Two plays later, French found Tabb out of the backfield for an 11-yard touchdown and a 35-28 lead.
West Virginia tied it for the fifth time on a 3-yard touchdown run by Amari Latimer, making it 35-35.
The Bearcats quickly retook the lead, 42-35, when Tabb scored his third touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run, set up by a 59-yard reception by Henry.
West Virginia answered with a five-play, 82-second drive capped by a 40-yard touchdown catch by Cook, tying the game at 42-42 with 3:44 remaining.
Cincinnati went three-and-out on its next possession, but Max Fletcher’s 66-yard punt rolled to the West Virginia 1-yard line. Starting at 2:05 pinned deep in their own territory, the Mountaineers marched 82 yards in eight plays to set up Cassidy’s game-winning kick.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati returns home for back-to-back games against ranked opponents, hosting No. 10 Texas Tech on Oct. 24 for its 100th Homecoming game and No. 11 Utah on Oct. 31. A TV designation and kickoff time for the Oct. 24 Homecoming game vs. Texas Tech will be announced on Sunday, Oct. 18.