Bearcats turn back Tulsa despite anxious moments
NO. 2 CINCINNATI 28, TULSA 20
CINCINNATI — Desmond Ridder threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns and No. 2 Cincinnati held off Tulsa 28-20 on Saturday.
Alec Peirce had five catches for 113 yards and a touchdown to help the Bearcats (9-0, 5-0 American Athletic) extend the nation’s second-longest home winning streak to 25 games.
Shamari Brooks rushed for 132 yards for Tulsa (3-6, 2-3), and Anthony Watkins ran for 105.
When Tulsa was stopped short on fourth down at the UC 4 with under two min- utes remaining, it appeared the Bearcats would just run out the clock. But Ridder fumbled on a sneak on the next play, giving the Golden Hurricane life.
T ulsa, however, was stopped for no gain on three consecutive rushes from the 1-yard line, culminating with Steven Anderson’s fumble on fourth-and-goal as he was reaching for the goal line. UC’s Jabari Taylor made the recovery for a touchback, then Ridder took a knee to seal the victory.
The Bearcats beat Tulsa 27-24 on a last-second field goal in the AAC championship game last season.
The game Saturday didn’t feel like it would be that close when rushing TDs by Ridder and Jerome Ford put the Bearcats ahead 14-0.
The Bearcats had a rough series in the second quarter when Ridder was sacked twice and leading rusher Ford was helped off with an apparent left leg injury. He did not return.
Brooks’ 8-yard TD run capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive by Tulsa late in the first half and cut the Bearcats’ lead to 14-9, but the point-after attempt was missed.
Zack Long connected on a 50-yard field goal and Tulsa trailed 14-12 at halftime.
Cincinnati outgained Tulsa 165-36 in the first quarter but was outgained 120-66 in the second.
Ridder and the Bearcats responded with touchdown passes to Pierce and Michael Young Jr. to go ahead 28-12. But Tulsa wasn’t finished. Davis Brin threw a 21-yard TD pass to JuanCarlos Santana and the 2-point con- version to bring the Golden Hurricane to 28-20 with eight minutes left.
After relatively close wins the past two weeks against Navy and Tulane, the Bearcats needed an impressive performance to sway the playoff committee. But Saturday’s performance isn’t likely to move the needle.