Bearcats protect Nippert Stadium in Big 12 opener against Kansas State, 31-26

The Cincinati Bearcats had their second Nipp at Night contest this time welcoming Big 12 foe the Kansas State Wildcats into Nippert Stadium. Both teams came into the opener 3-0, would Cincinnati be able to start off Big 12 play with a win?

Cincinnati started the game with the ball, the first play Gi’Bran Payne busted out for a 22 yard run, but then the drive stalled. The first Kansas State drive ended in a chip shot field goal by Luis Rodriquez from 22 yards out. That first defensive drive was the story of two missed tackles that could’ve gotten the Bearcats off the field. Now down 3-0, Rodney Fields hit the Bearcats with a 19 yard touchdown run to push the deficit to 10-0. With the offense struggling two nice runs by Cole Tabb set up a great play action call that led to JC French hitting Malachi Henry for a 39 yard touchdown. Now down 3, Payne had another great run that led to a 45 yard field goal by Stephen Rusnak to tie the game at 10. The following drive Avery Johnson led the Wildcats to a touchdown when he hit Derrick Salley for a 4 yard touchdown to push the score to 17-10. 

Down 7 at the half, the running game balled out Payne has 93 yards on six carries and Tabb has 59 yards on five carries. In the second half the pass game has to pick it up as French only has 44 yards on seven attempts. Johnson has played a pretty clean game going 17-of-25 for 150 yards and a touchdown and 27 yards on the ground. Salley has four catches for 77 yards and a touchdown. Damaine Wilson has six tackles to lead the way for the Bearcats.

Can the Bearcats mount the comeback in the second half?

Out the half Antwan Peek, Jr. stripped Salley and it was recovered by MJ Cannon, the Bearcats offense wasted no time with a seven play, 55 yard drive capped by a Tabb 5 yard run to tie the game at 17. Next drive, Tabb scored again this time from 30 yards out to finally take lead, 24-17. After a big play on third down from French to JV Gibson for 64 yards, the next play Zion Johnson fumbled giving the Wildcats the ball at the 17 yard line. The Bearcats defense held the Wildcats to a 36 yard field goal by Rodriguez. The Wildcats had the ball for 7:49 and 17 plays, it was a great stand by the defense, now the score is 24-20. After getting the Wildcats to jump offsides on 4th and 4, Tabb scored his third touchdown of the day from 14 yards out to push the score to 31-20, taking 6:02 off the clock. Fields scored his second second touchdown of the day from 2 yards out and on the Wildcats two point attempt, the Bearcats held keeping the lead at 5, 31-26.

The Bearcats held off the Wildcats for a 31-26 win.

Payne finished with 126 yards and Tabb finished with 124 yards and three touchdowns. French went 8-of-13 for 165 yards a touchdown. Johnson finished 30-of-50 for 291 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Thompson led the way with eight tackles.

With the win the Bearcats move to 4-0 (1-0 in the Big 12) and the Wildcats drop to 3-1 (0-1 in the Big 12), next week they will play Arizona at 11 pm ET.