The Cincinnati Bearcats roared out of the locker room in the second half, scoring three touchdowns in seven minutes. The surge took the wind out of the upset minded Houston Cougars and an American Athletic Conference championship with a 35-20 win.
The Bearcats and Cougars came into the title game with undefeated conference records at 8-0. Houston lost to Texas Tech in the first game of the season then won 11 straight. Cincinnati stared the game 12-0 and ranked fourth in the country.
Cincinnati took the second half kickoff and stretched a one-point lead to eight by taking advantage of a pass interference penalty on a fourth and three play. Desmond Ridder threw a short pass to Leonard Taylor.
Within eight seconds Joe Dublanko dropped back in coverage instead of rushing Houston quarterback Clayton Tune. Dublanko got into the passing lane and intercepted the pass. Ridder found Alec Pierce in the end zone with a 21-yard strike for the second score. The Cougars lost three yards on three plays and punted.
Jerome Ford made a cut at the line of scrimmage and ran 42 yards for their final score.
The first half of the game was just as even, The teams went into halftime with Cincinnati leading 14-13.
The game started out as if it would be a shootout. Both teams scored on their first possession. Houston moved 50 yards in seven plays but the Bearcats forced a field goal try.
Cincinnati countered with five plays that covered 82 yards, ending when Ridder connected with Tyler Scott in the Cougars' end zone. Houston took the lead back with a touchdown drive of 74 yards. Clayton Tune threw 16 yards to Nathaniel Del to put Houston ahead 10-7.
Ford took care of that lead with a 79 -yard run on the first play from scrimmage after the kickoff.
Houston's Dalton Witherspoon kicked a 46-yard field goal but no one scored again.
Cincinnati had a first and goal from the Houston eight yard line but the Cougars held and Christian Lowery missed an easy 23-yard field goal.
Houston closed out the scoring using two really dumb defensive penalties committed by the Bearcats to score with Jake Herslow catching a seven yard pass from Tune with 6:06 left in the game. Cincinnati ran out the clock from there.
Tune was sacked eight times for 54 yards in losses. He finished with 21 yards rushing, Since sack yard is deducted from rushing yards, Tune in reality gained 75 yards on 18 carries, He completed 17 of 26 passes for 250 yards, mostly to Del, who caught nine passes for 152 yards and a touchdown.
For Cincinnati, Ridder had 11 completions in 17 attempts for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Ford had 18 carries for 187 yards.
