Cincinnati Bearcats beat Pitt Panthers to go 2-0 under Scott Satterfield

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania – In their first meeting in 11 years, Coach Scott Satterfield's University of Cincinnati Bearcat offense pounced on Pitt's Panthers early and never trailed as they won a key non-conference game at Acrisure Stadium 27-21 over Pitt.

UC goes to 2-0 while Pitt drops to 1-1 with their first loss since last season. They had won six consecutive games.

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Corey Kiner had a career-high 153 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bearcats and was crucial in eating the clock at the end when the Panthers had crept within six points. Emory Jones was 18-for-26 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Payten Singletary and Braden Smith had the touchdown grabs. Smith added five catches for 59 yards and also had a 30-yard pass completion to Dee Wiggins.

Pitt's Phil Jurkovec had three touchdown passes was held to 10-of-32 passing for just 179 yards.

After forcing Pitt to a quick three-and-out to begin the game, UC got on the board just less than two minutes into the game on a quick drive culminating in a 12-yard touchdown toss to Payten Singletary from Emory Jones. UC would have leads of 10-0 in the first quarter, 20-7 at half and 27-7 after three quarters.

Pitt had 14 unanswered points in the final quarter, but Jack Dingle's sack of Jurkovec allowed UC to get the ball back and drain the clock at the end.

UC hosts Miami University next Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.

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FINAL Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

4:10, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

Huge sack by sophomore Jack Dingle and UC takes the ball over on their own 39. Again, any form of yardage would be advisable.

5:44, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

Jones is picked off by Marquis Williams. Pitt ball on UC 43.

6:17, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

UC's defense stops Jurkovec and company, Justin Harris on the third-down stop. Up-and-down game for him. The Bearcats could use a drive here.

7:18, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

UC again struggles at midfield. Fletcher a 44-yard punt. Pitt ball on their own 14 down six points.

11:53, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 21

When a UC drive sputters a midfield, Pitt responds with a 60-yard pass for Jurkoved to Gavin Bartholomew. He later comes back to Bartholomew on third down for a 16-yard touchdown and it's a six-point game.

14:49, fourth quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 14

Pitt goes for it to start the quarter on 4th and goal from the 9-yard line and Jurkovec connects with Konata Mumpfield for a second time. UC's lead at 13. They still have 305 total yards to Pitt's 180.

End third quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 7

Pitt has the ball 3rd and goal on the 9-yard line to start the fourth quarter.

9:17, third quarter, Cincinnati 27, Pitt 7

Emory Jones with his second touchdown pass of the game, this one 21 yards to Braden Smith. The play was reviewed and confirmed much to the chagrin of the Panther fans.

11:01, third quarter, Cincinnati 20, Pitt 7

Fumble on play was recovered by Taj Ward. Referees rule runner down. The play is reviewed. UC ball on Pitt 36. Ward's first career forced fumble and recovery.

11:36, third quarter, Cincinnati 20, Pitt 7

UC doesn't take advantage of their opening drive and Mason Fletcher has his second punt of the game. It's just 38 yards so Pitt ball on their own 30.

HALFTIME, Cincinnati 20, Pitt 7

Brown's field goal gives UC the 13-point lead. The Bearcats have outgained Pitt 263-136. Corey Kiner has rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown. Emory Jones is 8-for-13 passing for 53 yards and a touchdown to Payten Singletary who has a pair of catches for 15 yards. Braden Smith has two catches for 18 yards but has thrown the longest completion for UC with a 30-yarder to Dee Wiggins. Pitt's Phil Jurkovec is 4-for-13 for 56 yards with a touchdown to Konata Mumpfield. Their top rusher is C'Bo Flemister with 37 yards.

:05, second quarter, Cincinnati 20, Pitt 7

UC's longest drive of the game is 17 plays for 69 yards covering 8:11. It ends with Carter Brown banging a 47-yarder through the uprights. He's 3-for-3 as a Bearcat.

13:20, second quarter, Cincinnati 17, Pitt 7

Corey Kiner has his second straight 100-yard game after a 7-yard touchdown. The run set up by Braden Smith's 30-yard completion to Dee Wiggins for 30 yards. Smith is 6-for-11 for 190 yards passing for his career.

End first quarter, Cincinnati 10, Pitt 7

UC has the ball 2nd and 10 on their own 45. Emory Jones is 3-6 for 33 yards passing with the touchdown to Singletary. Corey Kiner has 80 yards rushing, 68 on one run. Aaron Turner had a 25-yard run. Pitt's Phil Jurkovec is 3-9 for 52 yards and a touchdown to Mumpfield.

1:27, first quarter, Cincinnati 10, Pitt 7

After UC had their first three-and-out, Pitt threatened to score again. However, the Bearcats held them to a 42-yard field goal attempt by Ben Sauls which was missed.

4:17, first quarter, Cincinnati 10, Pitt 7

Pitt's Phil Jurkovec connected on some key third-down plays as the Panthers go 10 plays 75 yards in 4:40. Jurkovec to Konata Mumpfield on the 5-yard touchdown toss. Ben Sauls on extra point.

8:57, first quarter, Cincinnati 10, Pitt 0

Corey Kiner's career-best 68-yard run gets UC to the 10-yard line, but they fall short of the end zone. Carter Brown makes a 22-yard field goal. He is 2-for-2 on the season.

11:45, first quarter, Cincinnati 7, Pitt 0

A 59-yard punt by Junko. Eric Phillips stifles the latest Pitt drive with a sack of Jurkovec. UC ball on Pitt 21.

13:06, first quarter, Cincinnati 7, Pitt 0

Four plays, 64 yards and Emory Jones hits Payten Singletary on a 12-yard score. Two touchdowns in two weeks for the Thomasville, Georgia native.

14:39, first quarter

A good start for the Bearcats defense as they force Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec to a three-and-out. Caleb Junko punted just twice last week. Out early today.

Toss: UC wins and defers to the second half.

Pre-kickoff: There's a red grouping of fans in the lower level to the right of UC's bench and a smattering behind their bench. Up high to the left of the bench are more. Otherwise, it's many blue-and-yellow-clad Panther fans. Lots of tailgaters, so we'll see what they say on attendance.

OUT: Junior corner Sammy Anderson Jr. will not play today as a precaution. Anderson suffered a head injury last week in the first half vs. EKU.

The University of Cincinnati returns to the site of one of its more historic wins today as they take to the grass of Acrisure Stadium. Most Bearcat or Bengal fans will remember the venue as Heinz Field. If you were around in 2009 UC pulled a dramatic comeback over Pitt to cap off a 12-0 season and win the Big East title.

Down 31-10, UC rallied to tie the Panthers at 38, then after a Pitt score and missed extra point, Tony Pike hit Armon Binns on a 29-yard touchdown with 33 on the clock. After Jake Rogers hit the extra point, UC was able to hold on for a 45-44 win. Overall, the Panthers have won eight of the 12 match-ups, including winning the following season.

Under Butch Jones, the Bearcats won in 2011 and 2012. After that, Pitt joined Syracuse and later Louisville in the ACC, Rutgers went to the Big Ten and West Virginia to the Big 12.

No trophy

Once billed as the River City Rivalry, the trophy that resides in UC's Lindner Center remains there. The "paddlewheel" didn't make the journey to the Three Rivers area by agreement of the schools.

"The trophy really doesn't matter or will matter to me, but we'll see," Narduzzi said earlier in the week. "I don't know if it'll be here or not. I don't know if our kids know what it is.

Pitt also plays another Big 12 team next week in West Virginia in the "Backyard Brawl".

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: UC football defeats Pitt at Acrisure Stadium