The Cincinnati Bearcats started fast but turned over the footall on two key possessions to fall to the West Virginia Mountaineers 31-24
The Bearcats had driven to the West Virginia 23-yard line with a seven point lead and a little over 12 minutes to play in the first half.
It was then the nightmare at Nippert began.
Just missing a first down on a four yard run by Corey Kiner, the Bearcats quarterback was scrambling out of the pocker and about to be tackled by Kekoura Tarnue for a loss. Brendon Sorsby tried to get off a desparate pass to running back Evan Pryor.
Anthony Wilson Jr. caught the ball easily with no one in front of him. He raced 79 yards to tie the game.
The misfortunes continued for Cincinnati (5-4, 3-3).
Sorsby scrambled up the middle for a six-yard gain the would have been a first down but Reid Carrico slapped the ball out of Sorsby's hands and Tarnue recovered at the Cincinnati 37.
West Virginia (5-4, 4-2) was held to a 24-yard field goal by Michael Harris II.
Perhaps gun shy, Sorsby missed on his next three passes and the Bearcats punted on two possesions.
The Mountaineers scored on a 41-yard three play drive set up by a 29-yard punt return by Preston Fox. a 10-yard pass from Nico Marchiol to Justin Robinson finished the drive. West Virginia carried a 10-point lead into halftime.
Marchiol scored on an eight-yard run on West Virginia first second half possession.
Logan Wilson intercepted a Marchiol pass into the end zone to thwart another Mountaineer drive with 2:42 third quater.
Evan Pryor busted loose on a short pass for 80 yards on the next play with 2:29 to make it difficult for West Virginia to sleep.
An inspired Cincinnati defense forced the Mountaineers toe punt. The Bearcats had one second to play in the quarter when it downed a punt on their own 29.
Sorsby ran for a 12-yard score with 9:42 left in the game to pull the Bearcats within a field goal. Sorsby rushed for 17, four and nine yards to pick up the final 42 yards of the drive with his legs.
Fox returned the kickoff 43 yards to the Cincinnati 49 but the Bearcats forced a punt on three plays to get the ball back on the five with 9:35 left in the game.
Sorsby threw a backward pass that was recovered by
Tyrin Bradley, who returned it 14 yards for a clinching touchdown with 3:30 remaining.
Cincinnati had a first and goal at the sixth with a minute left but a false start by Xzavier Henderson dropped them five yards and forced a Bearcat timeout.
The Bearcats settled for a field goal and an onside kick that West Virginia recovered to end the game.
