Desmond Ridder And Stout Bearcat Defense Lead UC To Seventh Win - Undefeated

 

 

Just over a year ago, the Cincinnati Bearcats had to rally for 18 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the East Carolina Pirate, 46-43.

This year the undefeated Bearcats won its seventh game of the season by taking control from the very beginning, culminating in a 55-17 win.  In the last four games the Bearcats have scored 42,49,38 and 55 points while allowing 13,10,10 and 17.   The Bearcats have held opponents to 17 points or under in the last six games.  FCS Austin Peay put up 20 points in the season opener.

The Bearcats held ECU to 87 yards passing.

Desmond Ridder accounted for 402 yards of offense in the Bearcats 42-10 win over ECU,  He threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 75 yards and a touchdown before turning the offense over to Ben Bryant in the fourth quarter.

Michael Young tood a 33-yard pass from Ridder with 9:14 left in the first quarter.  Senior linebacker Jarell White out of LaSalle High School intercepted a pass at the Pirates 26-yard line and raced with into the endzone to put the Bearcats up 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter.

Keaton Mitchell broke the shutout with an 18-yard run into the Bearcats endzone.

Three minutes later Jerome Ford ran it home from 24 yards out.

The Bearcats held ECU inside their own 20 to force a 22-yard field goal by Jake Verity to close it to 21-10 but the Bearcats scored twice in the last five minutes.  Ridder connected with Tre Tucker with a 45-yard score.  Ridder ran it in from the seven yard line to lead at the half 35-10.

Jayshon Jackson caught a 12-yard pass from Ridder in the third quarter, the Bryant, the sophomore understudy entered the game.

Bryant led the team on a nine-play, 75-yard drive eating 4:37.  Bryant completed all three of his passes on the drive that was capped by Ford's one-yard plunge with 5:41 left in the game.

Rhajai Harris scored a token touchdown for ECU on a one-yard run with 17 seconds left.

With ECU expecting a kneel at the end of the game. Senior Cameron Young broke off a 75-yard run.  The extra point was wide.