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-winterevening, it was a stacked and packed Nippert Stadium with the 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.
"What a special, special night," Bearcat coach Luke Fickell said. "The way we came out in the second half, we weren't going to be denied. The seniors, Coby Bryant, Desmond Ridder and some of those guys stepped up and just said, 'We're going to go out here in the second half and we're going to take it.'"
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.
"Coach Fick always talks about leaving the place better than what you found it," Ridder said. "I definitely say we've done that. We take pride obviously playing in Nippert in front of a wonderful crowd. That was pretty rowdy! I'm going to miss it for sure."
Ford was named the AAC Championship game MVP after recently battling injuries.
"It felt good to be back out helping the team," Ford said.
Fickell interrupted with, "Just give him the ball!He's done an unbelievable job. I'm so proud of how it's worked for him, meaning when he first came in, it didn't just happen. He embraced the culture of how we do things. We don't worry about the selfishness."
Ford was the understudy of Gerrid Doaks, a year ago until Doaks was injured and the Alabama transfer shined in the Peach Bowl against Georgia.
UC goes to 13-0 for the first time in historyand awaits the College Football Playoff selection committee decision. Houston drops to 11-2. Their 20 points was a season-low and it was their first loss since they dropped their opener Sept. 4 vs. Texas Tech.
The Bearcats are the last NCAA major program standing undefeated.
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 thenmade the Cougars pay on a 23-yard pass to the left corner of the endzone.
"They were attacking the middle throughout the game," Dublanko said sporting sunglasses and a backward cap in the interview room. "I saw where the QB's eyes were looking and he happened to throw it my way. I stuck my hands up. It went in my hands and stayed in my hands. I was like, 'Crap! I have the football right now!'"
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 black 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.
Houston's Dana Holgorsen said UC should be in and deserved to be in the final four. Fickell is set to be at a banquet tomorrow between 12 and 2 p.m. and says he won't be watching. He also left his lobbying on the field of play.
"The resounding statement is what you just saw on the football field," Fickell said. "What these guys did in the third quarter is who we are. If that's not good enough, we're going to take our ball and go someplace else I guess. We let our play speak for us."
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. He was able to see Taylor score one of UC's touchdowns.
"I was a senior when they were freshmen and sophom*ores," 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)
