CINCINNATI, Ohio – The 123rd Battle for the Victory Bell saw Miami and Cincinnati battle through a rainy evening at Paul Brown Stadium. The RedHawk defense held the Bearcats to 233 total yards, but they were unable to crack the end zone in a 21-0 setback on Saturday night.
Miami drops to 0-2 on the season.
Both teams traded punts on their first possessions and a Miami three-and-out then set up Cincinnati (2-0) with a short field, which it took 62 yards for an eventual two-yard touchdown rush by Michael Warren II to go up 7-0 with 5:33 left in the first quarter. The RedHawks utilized a personal foul and a couple first downs to get into UC territory on the following possession, but a fourth down try fell short at the Bearcats' 29 as the ball went back to Cincinnati on downs.
Cincinnati drove into Miami territory, but a holding penalty on a fourth-down conversion was wiped out and forced a UC punt early in the second quarter. The teams combined for eight punts in the first half as Miami remained down a touchdown at the break.
Defense played a big role in the second half as the first five combined possessions ended in a punt. The RedHawks got hemmed deep in their own territory early in the fourth quarter and a
Gus Ragland pass was deflected and intercepted by Cincinnati, with Darrick Forrest returning it to the Miami one. Warren then punched it in on the next play to put the Bearcats up 14-0 with 13:18 left. Miami got one first down on its next two possessions and eventually Cincinnati used a 12-play touchdown drive to milk nearly six and a half minutes off the clock and put the game away as Desmond Ridder hit Josiah Deguara from nine yards out to make the score 21-0 with 3:21 left.
Cincinnati outgained Miami by a 233-198 count with the bulk of the damage a 188-59 advantage in rushing yards. Didder led all players with 100 yards on the ground. Miami's offense was led by
James Gardner's seven catches for 80 yards as
Gus Ragland went 22-of-41 for 139 yards passing.
The RedHawks are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 15 when they head to Minnesota for a non-conference tilt against the Golden Gophers. Opening kick is slated for 3:30 p.m.
