Cincinnati Bearcats earn first Big 12 win over Houston
HOUSTON – The goose egg is no longer.
The University of Cincinnati finally has a football victory in the Big 12 as they defeated Houston on the Cougars' Homecoming Night 24-14.
It doesn't matter that both were AAC members last year, a win is a win in a tough league and this one was nearly flawless as UC wasn't even penalized until late in the game.
UC's Ken Willis, in for the injured Deshaun Pace, intercepted Houston's Donovan Smith to ice the victory.
For the fifth time this season UC's Corey Kiner was over 100 yards rushing with 129 and two touchdowns. Quarterback Emory Jones started at quarterback and was 13-for-16 for 131 yards with a touchdown to Ryan Montgomery. Brady Lichtenberg also played and was 4-for-7 for 33 yards.
Braden Smith led the receivers with five grabs for 69 yards, including a couple key receptions on UC's early fourth quarter drive that put them up by 17 points. That drive was kick-started by a reversal from the replay booth on a Houston fourth-down conversion.
UC also started off the second half strong when Dorian Jones intercepted Smith to stifle a Cougars drive.
For Houston, Smith was 16-for-28 passing for 102 yards and two touchdowns but UC picked him off three times. He was also Houston's top ground gainer with 88 yards. UC led in total offense 368-241.
The Bearcats are now 3-7 (1-6 Big 12) while Houston drops to 4-6 (2-5).
A promising start
UC was able to score on their opening drive as they traveled 75 yards in 11 plays with Emory Jones going 4-for-4 for 37 yards. The drive ended with a 7-yard pass to Ryan Montgomery. In UC's opening two victories, they also scored on their opening possession.
While UC's defense stopped Houston's Donovan Smith early, the load in the No. 1 red jersey began to scramble out of predicaments. Late in the first quarter, he rambled 35 yards, then in the second he extended the drive further near the goal line before hitting Joseph Manjack IV on a 7-yard pass with the extra point knotting the game 7-7.
Kiner takes over
In UC's second possession of the second quarter, Corey Kiner ripped off a 62-yard run. His hard running was eventually rewarded with a 1-yard touchdown plunge. UC then had an opportunity to add on when Deshaun Pace intercepted Houston's Smith, but he fumbled on the Cougars 10-yard line on the return to hand the ball back.
UC would get the ball back and Kiner would finish with 105 yards at halftime. However, he was stopped on 4th-and-1 on the Houston 16-yard line late in the second quarter preventing UC from adding on before the break.
Turnover leads to early 3rd quarter score
Dorian Jones picked off Smith early in the second half. UC went on a 12-play drive but couldn't get a touchdown. Carter Brown's 31-yard field goal put the Bearcats up 17-7. UC failed to add more points early in the fourth quarter when Brady Lichtenberg was stopped 4th-and-1 on the Cougars 43-yard line with 14:14 left in the contest.
Upon further review
Houston's Donovan Smith was leading a Cougars drive early in the fourth quarter and hit Samuel Brown for a measured first down on 4th-and-3. But, the replay officials looked at it and said UC's Jordan Young stopped Brown short, stopping the Houston drive and giving UC the football.
The Bearcats would capitalize on the good fortune with a 52-yard drive led by Emory Jones with key completions to Aaron Turner and Braden Smith. Kiner ran in the 5-yard touchdown to up the lead to 17.
Houston would cut the UC lead to 10 on a 75-yard touchdown drive late ending again in a scoring pass from Smith to Manjack IV.
They would shoot fireworks afterward. Albeit, too late.
The Bearcats are back on the road next week in Morgantown vs. West Virgina.
Ken Willis intercepts Willis to give UC ball back | Final Cincinnati 24, Houston 14
Houston back on the board late | Cincinnati 24, Houston 14
The Cougars go 75 yards on 12 plays in 5:25 with Donovan Smith and Joseph Manjack IV hooking up again from two yards. Houston advanced the ball after an end zone pass interference call on Bryon Threats with 3:27 left in the game. It was UC's first penalty of the night. There is 3:22 left in the game. Houston shot off fireworks after the last score.
UC converts on replay call with touchdown | Cincinnati 24, Houston 7
After the Bearcats took over the ball, UC went six plays and 52 yards in 3:14. Corey Kiner finishes it off with a 5-yard touchdown. Kiner with 121 yards and two scores now. A key completion was Emory Jones on 3rd-and-10 completing a 14-yard first-down pass to Aaron Turner. He also had back-to-back completions to Braden Smith to set up the Kiner score.
Upon further review, UC ball | Cincinnati 17, Houston 7
With 12:01 left in the game on 4th-and-3, Houston's Donovan Smith appeared to hit Samuel Brown for a first down to extend a Cougar drive. However, after a field measurement, replay officials ruled Jordan Young's tackle stopped Brown short.
Quick quarter, UC leads going to fourth frame | Cincinnati 17, Houston 7
Bearcats have the ball 3rd-and-3 on Houston 42. Brady Lichtenberg leading this drive. He's 4-for-7 on the night for 33 yards with 22 yards on the ground.
INT early in third quarter gives UC the ball, but they settle for a field goal | Cincinnati 17, Houston 7
Dorian Jones had the pick of Donovan Smith to flush Houston's second-half opening drive. UC goes 12 plays and 37 yards in 6:28 but they have to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Carter Brown when Emory Jones is sacked for a third time.
Halftime: After a sack of Jones, UC goes to locker room with lead | Cincinnati 14, Houston 7
It's UC's first halftime lead since their week two win vs. Pitt.
Halftime numbers
UC has outgained Houston 225-125, outrushed them 151-93 and outpassed them 74-32. Corey Kiner has his fifth 100-yard game with 105 so far and a touchdown. Emory Jones is 7-for-10 passing for 54 yards and a touchdown to Ryan Montgomery. Brady Lichtenberg is 1-for-3 for 20 yards. Ryan Montgomery, Payten Singletary and Braden Smith all have two receptions.
Deshaun Pace has four tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception (which he fumbled). Dontay Corleone has UC's lone sack.
UC drives to Houston 16, gets nothing | Cincinnati 14, Houston 7
The Bearcats got to the Cougars 16 on a 5-yard pass from Jones to Payten Singletary. On 4th-and-1, they line up for what looked like a "tush push". Jones then called time. They came back with a hand-off to Kiner who was stopped for no gain, which also meant no valuable pre-halftime points.
Kiner takes over | Cincinnati 14, Houston 7
With 8:04 left in the second quarter, UC goes 93 yards on six plays in 2:17. Corey Kiner gets the 1-yard plunge. He had a 62-yard run in the drive and has 99 for the night. Brady Lichtenberg has been UC's second quarter quarterback.
Cougars tie thanks to Donovan Smith's scrambling | Cincinnati 7, Houston 7
Houston goes on a 12-play 83-yard drive in 4:57 with Donovan Smith throwing a 7-yard scoring pass to Joseph Manjack IV. Smith had a key 35-yard scramble in the series and has rushed for 58 yards on the night.
End first quarter | Cincinnati 7, Houston 0
However, 6-5, 241-pound Houston quarterback Donovan Smith has 48 rushing yards and has the Cougars on the 17-yard line. UC last had a first-quarter lead against Iowa State. That dissipated as the Cyclones went on to win 30-10 on UC's Homecoming.
A new face, old face | Cincinnati 7, Houston 0
Freshman cornerback Rayquan Adkins is seeing his first action tonight. He's the first true freshman starter at corner since Sauce Gardner. Offensive lineman Trevor Radosevich is wearing No. 87 tonight and has played in some extra tight end situations. 4:01 in the first, Houston is on their second possession.
Bearcats score first | Cincinnati 7, Houston 0
With 8:43 left in the first quarter, UC completes an 11-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard scoring pass from Emory Jones to Ryan Montgomery. Jones 4-for-4 for 37 yards on the drive. Kiner has 15 yards rushing, Jones 14. UC stopped the Cougars on their first series.
Out of bowl contention and still searching for their first Big 12 victory, University of Cincinnati Bearcats football plays in Houston's TDECU Stadium for the first time in four years.
The Bearcats and Desmond Ridder beat the Cougars 38-23 Oct. 12, 2019 with a four-interception game. UC has won three straight in the series including the 2021 AAC championship game at Nippert Stadium, 35-20.
The current Bearcats that played that day are running back Ryan Montgomery, punter Mason Fletcher, defensive back Deshawn Pace and defensive linemen Jowon Briggs and Malik Vann.
Houston has a pair of Big 12 wins
Dana Holgorsen's Cougars are 4-5 (2-4 Big 12). They defeated West Virginia on a last-second hurl to the end zone by 6-5, 241-pound quarterback Donovan Smith, 41-39. Last week, Smith led them to an overtime victory at Baylor by matching the Bears' overtime touchdown and then running in the two-point conversion to take the win.
UC AD supports Bandaogo, Phillips
As the next move for currently ineligible basketball big men Aziz Bandaogo and Jamille Reynolds is up in the air, UC athletic director John Cunningham in Houston Sunday offered continued support for them. UC is getting information from Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Bandaogo's attorneys Elliot Abrams and Swain Wood from North Carolina, but the University is not directly involved.
Reynolds appeal is expected to be ruled on soon. Bandaogo's argument has been public.
"I see them every day and that's what I care about, the young men I'm around and the coaches are around," Cunningham said. "I'm concerned about them and this situation impacting them. The support from our fan base and staff means a lot to them."
Tough morning for Cougar football family
Former Houston football players D.J. Hayden, Zach McMillan and Ralph Oragwu were killed in a collision early Saturday morning in downtown Houston. Hayden was a former first-round pick of the Raiders in 2013.
"I reached out to Chris Pezman (Houston AD) and let him know that our hearts are heavy for the whole Cougar community," Cunningham said. "
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Bearcats earn first Big 12 win over Houston Cougars
