For a second straight December, the University of Cincinnati hosted the American Athletic Conference football championship game Saturday. A year ago, it came in front of a limited crowd of 5,831 due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.
On this pre-winter evening, it was a stacked and packed Nippert Stadium with a fan base in a lather over a possible undefeated season. Couple that with the likelihood of Luke Fickell remaining as coach and Corryville was at a fever pitch before kickoff.
Decked out in holiday red in front of 37,978, the Bearcats gave their fans season's greetings with a 35-20 defeat of No. 21 Houston. They now have won back-to-back AAC championships in three consecutive appearances in the final.
UC scored 21 unanswered points in the opening 7:22 of the second half to distance themselves from the Cougars who were looking to spoil the Bearcat party.
Running back Jerome Ford ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Desmond Ridder finished his career 26-0 at The Nipp with an 11-for-17 passing performance for 190 yards and three scores. Tyler Scott, Alec Pierce and Leonard Taylor were the recipients of Ridder's touchdown tosses.
UC goes to 13-0 and awaits the College Football Playoff selection committee decision. Houston drops to 11-2.
How it went down
Houston who had verbally sparred with Bearcat players prior to the game took the opening kickoff and immediately moved the ball. However, they sputtered in the red zone and had to settle for a 37-yard Dalton Witherspoon field goal after Curtis Brooks and Jabari Taylor sacked quarterback Tune.
Ridder's response was a 4-for-4 drive that took just a shade over two minutes with Tyler Scott snaring a 25-yard score.
Houston's Tune scrambled and made several pinpoint throws on the ensuing possession which ended with a 16-yard scoring strike to Nathaniel Dell. Before the Cougars were done congratulating each other, UC's Jerome Ford had ripped a 79-yard score in front of the Houston bench and was pounding the touchdown drum exalting fans on the UC sideline.
Ford has now had 79-yard touchdown runs against Georgia, Central Florida and now Houston all in 2021. It was also UC's record-setting 67th touchdown of the season besting a mark the 2009 Sugar Bowl team held.
The second quarter started with a Witherspoon 47-yard field goal to put Houston within a point. The Bearcats quickly got within the Houston 10-yard line, but a run call failed on third down and a Christian Lowery 23-yard field goal attempt drew groans when it sailed wide left. Bearcat kickers have missed field goals in seven of the team's 13 contests and that one put them 7-for-17 on the season.
Each team had their first punts of the game late in the quarter as the half ended 14-13.
With the second-half kickoff, the Bearcats to the Houston 20 with a 4th-and-3, rather than kick, they went for it and picked up a first down after a pass interference penalty. Ridder then followed with an 8-yard scoring pass to Leonard Taylor.
The game then took a huge UC turn when Joel Dublanko picked off Houston's Tune. Ridder and Alec Pierce then made the Cougars pay on a 23-yard pass to the left corner of the endzone.
At 7:38 of the third quarter, Ford hit the accelerator for a 42-yard touchdown making it 35-13 and sending the red and black faithful into a frenzy. The score was his 20th career tying former Bearcat Michael Warren's exploits of 2018.
Houston added a touchdown with just over six minutes remaining. their first since late in the first quarter. Within a minute, UC had punted the ball back.
With 2:10 remaining, MyJai Sanders and Marcus Brown sacked Tune a final time. UC would get a final possession but punted away. In the waning seconds, phone lights came on and the press box could be felt swaying.
In the end, the field was sea of red and back with swaying C-Paws.
High Noon
The College Football Playoff Selection Show is Sunday at 12 noon on ESPN. Should the Bearcats remain at No. 4 or higher, history will be made. With Oklahoma State losing, it would seemingly to be tough to exclude UC, but what a committee may do overnight is anyone's guess.
Deguara in the house
Former Bearcats tight end Josiah Deguara had a bye week with Green Bay and was in attendance at the AAC title game. Among those he hugged as they entered the field were tight ends Josh Whyle and Leonard Taylor.
"I was a senior when they were freshmen and sophomores," Deguara said. "Josh and Lenny have been a crucial part of the offense all year. I'm excited to see what they have for them. It's been awesome to watch them."
Deguara sported a vintage Bearcat Danny Fortson jersey to the game, something he ordered online.
CINCINNATI 14 0 21
HOUSTON 10 3 0
H - Witherspoon 37-yard FG
UC - Ridder 25-yard pass to Scott (Lowery kick)
H - Tune 16-yard pass to Dell (Witherspoon kick)
UC- Ford 79-yard run (Lowery kick)
H - Witherspoon 47-yard FG
UC - Ridder 8-yard pass to Taylor (Lowery kick)
UC - Ridder 23-yard pass to Pierce (Lowery kick)
UC - Ford 42-yard run (Lowery kick)
H - Tune 7-yard pass to Herslow (Witherspoon kick)
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