Cincinnati Defeats Miami To Lead The Series For The First Time In 107 Years

 

 

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Between the Miami Redhawks (Redskins) and The Cincinnati Bearcats the later was the first to win 60 games in the series. It took them 107 years to do it.

The Bearcats took control at the end of the first half to win its 16th straight in the series with its rival roughly 40 miles to the north, 38-17.  Miami's last win in the series was in 2005.

The Beacats now lead the series for the first time since 1915, 60-59.  There have been seven ties.

"We hadn't had the lead since 1915. We talked about this all week," Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell said.  "The respect for the rivalry is alive and well for what we tried to do.  That being said, I give them a lot of credit. They came out and had a really good game plan."

The Bearcats survived two first-half fumbles and a 10-0 Miami Redhawks' lead to score the go-ahead touchdown with 13 seconds left in the first half.

Ivan Pace Jr. played at Miami for three seasons before transfering to the Clifton Campus to play with his brother and move to the "right side" of the fabled rivalry.  A victory bell is a prize that has been exchanged by the two schools each year after the game.

"It definitley was emotional.  I practiced with them for three years," Pace said.  "They know what I can do and I know what they can do. The Victory Bell means respect Everbybody gives respect to the bell.  It really isn't much difference between being at Miami or Cincinnati. We are both fighting for what's ours."

The 24-17 lead was the first on the day by the visiting Bearcats at the newly christened Paycor Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Miami quarterback, Aveon Smith, threw a pair of touchdown passe, taking advantage of two Cincinnati fumble.   Penn State transfer, Mac Hippenheimer hauled in the first toss from 36 yards out and Jack Coldiron caught a two-yard flip after Cincinnati closed with three on a Charles McClelland two-yard plunge.

Cincinnati fumbled at mid field to set up Graham Nicholson's 36-yard field goal.  Their second fumble on the 20 led to Coldiron's score.

Corey Kiner scored on a two-yard plunge, then Cincinnati took advantage of Arquon Bush's interception on their own 12 to drive 88 yards, ending in a 10-yard scoring pass from Ben Bryant to 6'6" Nick Mardner to lead at the half 24-17.

Cincinnati added another scoring play, a pass from Bryant to Tyler Scott from 41 yards out.  They added a 10-yard run by Charles McClelland to cap the scoring.

The Redhawks threatened in the third quarter but the Cincinnati defense put up a goal line stand on the one yard line.  

Tyler Scott and Tre Tucker were friends in North East Ohio.  The pair both had 100 yard games as recievers.  That hasn't happened since 2016 for Cincinnati when Devin Gray and Thomas Geddes did it at Tulsa.

"We push each other and have jokes going back and forth," Scott said. "We cheer for each other and definietley watch what the other guy is doing."

The Bearcats won for the second week in a row but three turnovers and 10 penalties put a bit of a drag on the win, going into a rematch with Indiana next Saturday.

"I don't think we played our best ball," Fickell said.  "The energy from the turnover and drive before the half, helped us settle in a little bit. We came out in the second half and were in control. We didn't play clean.  There are a lot of things we've got to fix and get better."