The Cincinnati Bearcats played the dozens in a 27-24 upset win over number 18 University of Central Florida.
Cincinnati finished a disappointing possession when a true freshman wearing number 12, Ahmad Gardner stepped in front of UCF receiver at the 16-yard line. Gardner dashed into the endzone to give the Bearcats a 20-16 lead.
"I knew he was going to throw it. I knew if I jumped it, it was going to be there," Gardner said. ".He’s a freshman (UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel). We were going to try to get into his head, too. That’s what the adjustment was. It worked.
Michael Warren rambled 61 yards to become the third Bearcat to have a 2,000 yards rushing in a career. The play at the end of the third quarter set up an 11-yard scoring pass to number 12, Alec Pierce from Desmond Ridder, who finished with 17-31 for 149 yards passing and one interception. He carried the ball 12 times for 56 yards
The Cincinnati (4-1, 1-0 AAC) defense held Central Florida (4-1, 0-1 AAC) to 16 points. The Knights entered the game after a 56-21 win over Connecticut and scored 245 points. They scored their fewest points in a 35-34 loss to Pittsburgh.
The Knights use a hurry-up offense to prevent situational substitutions for the opposing defensre. The Bearcats rotated the corner backs to start defensive series.
"we can limit the big plays, we’ve got our opportunity. We eliminated the big plays, Luke Fickell said.
"I have to look myself in the mirror," Gabriel said. "Three turnovers are unacceptable."
Central Florida took a punt at its own seven and drove 93 yards in five plays, scoring on a 45-yard pass from Gabriel to Tre Nixon and a two-point conversion pass to Adrian Killins to put the Knights within a field goal with 3:09 to play. UCF was out of time outs.
The Knights stopped Warren on a third and one, inches from a first down with 1:42 left. Cincinnati let the clock run down then got the first down on Ridders quarterback sneak. The clock ran out.
"I guess there’s no sweeter way to seal the deal against a team that’s the best in the league, been the best the last two times," Fickell said. "The only way you’re going to knock off the best is to continue to be aggressive. The only way to beat the best is to take chances."
Warren rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries.
Turnovers did a lot to shape the first half between number 18 Central Florida snd Cincinnati in a sold out Nippert Stadium.
Greg McCrae scored on a one-yard run with 58 seconds left in the first half to allow the Knights to take a 16-10 lead into the locker room at the half.
Dylan Barnas kicked three field goals of 22,24 and 31 yards but Cincinnati got a 38-yard field goal by Sam Crosa and a five-yard touchdown pass from Desmond Ridder to Trent Cloud. It was setup by a fumble recovery at the UCF 19 by Michael Pitts off a fumble by Knights quarterback, Dillon Gabriel.
It gave Cincinnati a 10-6 lead but after Barnas third field goal, Tay Gowan intercepted a Ridder pass at the Cincinnati 41 and returned to the Cincinnati 23. A Cincinnati personal foul call but the ball at the 12. McCrae picked up the yardage on four runs.
A pair of holding penalties by Cincinnati defensive backs allowed the Knights to sustain a first quarter drive to a field goal. Cincinnati's defense was betrayed by a roughing the kicker penalty by Joah Whyle allowed Central Florida to drive into Cincinnati territory but Cam Jeffries intercepted a Gabriel pass at the two. Jeffries returned it to the Knights 41 but the ball popped loose. It took a replay review to confirm that Jeffries was down before the ball came loose.
Cincinnati netted eight yards wasting a scoring chance.
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