The University of Cincinnati football team won the Battle for the Victory Bell, again.
Bearcats senior quarterback Desmond Ridder accounted for five total touchdowns, including a career-long 81-yard score through the air, and No. 8/10-ranked (Associated Press/Coaches) Cincinnati coasted to a 49-14 win over in-state rival Miami University on Saturday in front of a sold-out crowd at Nippert Stadium.
The lopsided victory marked the 15th straight for the Bearcats over the RedHawks, as UC knotted the nation's oldest non-conference series at 59 wins apiece all time (59-59-7).
Miami hasn't beaten Cincinnati since Sept. 28, 2005. Ridder was 6 years old.
Saturday also marked the reintroduction of Mike Tressel to UC fans. After 14 years at Michigan State, Tressel, who served as the Bearcats' linebackers and special teams coach from 2004-06, replaced Marcus Freeman as defensive coordinator in January after Freeman left for Notre Dame.
More:How the Bearcats' defense will look under new defensive coordinator Mike Tressel
Under Tressel, the Cincinnati defense, which has been one of the top units in the country over the past three seasons, looked just as dominant.
The Bearcats held the RedHawks, who were without injured quarterback Brett Gabbert (2019 Mid-American Freshman of the Year), to 280 total yards of offense (130 yards in the first half). But UC's streak of consecutive games with a forced turnover ended at 20 games. It was the longest active streak in the FBS.
Backup quarterback AJ Mayer completed 9 of 28 passes for 109 yards for Miami.
It took all of 45 seconds into the most anticipated season in program history for Cincinnati to get on the board. Two plays after Tre Tucker fielded the opening kickoff, Ridder found sophomore wide receiver Tyler Scott for an 81-yard touchdown to give the Bearcats an early 7-0 lead after the extra point.
The 81-yard strike is the longest completion of Ridder's five-year UC career, the longest pass play for the Bearcats since 2016 and the quickest score for Cincinnati since 2014.
Ridder accounted for his second score of the day on an 8-yard pass to junior running back Ryan Montgomery out of the backfield. The touchdown gave Cincinnati a 14-0 advantage with 8:01 to go in the first quarter.
UC took a commanding 21-0 lead after Ridder linked up with tight end Josh Whyle for a 23-yard score at the end of the opening frame.
Former Alabama running back Jerome Ford got into the action in the second quarter. Ford raced 21 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-0. Ford finished with 121 yards on 12 carries.
Ridder added another rushing touchdown from 25 yards out to put UC ahead 35-0 at halftime. The 2020 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, completed 14 of 16 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns before intermission.
After finding tight end Leonard Taylor for an 8-yard score in the fourth quarter, Ridder took a seat. He concluded his day with 295 yards on 20-of-25 passing and no turnovers.
More:Q&A: The Enquirer sits down with Cincinnati Bearcats senior quarterback Desmond Ridder
Miami scored both of its touchdowns in the final quarter. Running back Kenny Tracy scored one on a 19-yard scamper, while cornerback John Saunders collected a tipped pass off of UC backup quarterback Evan Prater and raced 32 yards into the end zone.
The defending AAC champion Bearcats extended their winning streak at Nippert to 21 games. Cincinnati, which is expected to join the Big 12 Conference, went unbeaten at home in each of the past three seasons.
After winning its 11th straight season-opener, Cincinnati will host Murray State on Sept. 11. The Racers are members of the FCS' Ohio Valley Conference.
Source link
