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CINCY |
IND |
Ridder helps No. 8 Bearcats rally for 38-24 win at Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder struggled through the first half.
He reverted to form in the second half -- and so did the Bearcats.
The senior threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the final 30 minutes, helping No. 8 Cincinnati rally for a critical 38-24 victory at Indiana on Saturday.
''This is huge. I feel like it's a weight lifted off our shoulders,'' Ridder said. ''People talk about checklists and what you've got to do and that's a check mark off the list.''
It's one. But the bigger one could come in two weeks when the unbeaten Bearcats visit Notre Dame for a showdown that could provide momentum for their playoff hopes.
Without Ridder's resilience, those aspirations could have ended in Bloomington. His two first-half turnovers, an interception and a fumble, allowed Indiana to build a 14-0 lead in front of its largest home crowd for a non-conference game, 52,656, since September 1987.
But the momentum swung when Ridder took a big hit on third-and-10 late in the first half. A replay review resulted in a targeting call and the ejection of Hoosiers linebacker Micah McFadden, giving the Bearcats a rare first down.
Almost instantly things changed for Indiana (1-2).
''We were dominating them till that point,'' Indiana coach Tom Allen said. ''He's our leader, he's part of our pressure, he makes a lot of tackles, and when you lose a guy like that, that's tough.''
The Bearcats sensed it, too, and Ridder wasted no time taking advantage by leading the Bearcats (3-0) to their first score. They added a field goal before halftime and Cincinnati finally took the lead on Jerome Ford's second TD run, a 3-yarder midway through the third quarter.
Indiana answered with a 14-yard scoring run from D.J. Matthews Jr. Tre Tucker gave Cincinnati a 23-21 lead with a 99-yard return on the ensuing kickoff, b ut when the Bearcats missed the extra point the Hoosiers regained the lead with a 49-yard field goal.
Ridder took care of the rest.
He threw a 19-yard TD pass to Alec Pierce for the go-ahead score with 12:13 remaining, scored on a 7-yard run with 2:37 to go and completed a 2-point conversion pass to seal Cincinnati's big win.
''It's huge for us,'' coach Luke Fickell said. ''It's a little different world for us just because it's a little bit of a spotlight, a little bit of a bull's eye. I'm not saying it's any more of a spotlight or a bull's eye than anyone else who's ranked. But for us as a program it's a little different than what we've experienced and our guys are finding a way to really handle it.''
THE TAKEAWAY
Cincinnati: Fickell was worried about this season's first road trip - and with good reason. The Bearcats had five false starts and two turnovers in the first half. But Cincinnati cleaned things and rallied in the second half.
Indiana: Losing McFadden, a captain changed everything, for the Hoosiers' defense. Add their red-zone struggles, three turnovers and the special teams breakdown and it was the perfect combination for a loss.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Cincinnati: The voters may dock the Bearcats for lacking style points, which could cause them to slide a little - but not too far.
Indiana: The Hoosiers needed a win to return to the rankings. Their next chance could come in two weeks.
STAT PACK
Cincinnati: Ridder was 20 of 36 with 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran 10 times for 45yards and lost a fumble. ... Pierce had five receptions for 86 yards. ... Linebacker Darrian Beavers left briefly in the first half but forced and recovered a fumble to stop one Indiana scoring threat and sacked Michael Penix Jr. to start Indiana's second-to-last possession.
Indiana: Penix was 17 of 40 with 224 yards, two TD passes and three interceptions. He's been picked off three times in each of the Hoosiers' losses. He did not take questions after the game because he was having X-rays on his throwing arm, which he hurt during the game. ... Stephen Carr rushed 21 times for 52 yards and scored on 5-yard TD reception. ... Matthews had five receptions for 120 yards, the second 100-yard game of his college career. ... Peyton Hendershot caught six passes for 60 yards and one TD.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati: The Bearcats have a bye week, then head to No. 12 Notre Dame on Oct. 2.
Indiana: visits Western Kentucky next Saturday.
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D. Ridder
9 QB 210 PaYds, PaTD, INT, 45 RuYds, RuTD |
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D. Matthews Jr.
7 WR 120 ReYds, 5 RECs, 28 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 19 | 21 |
Rushing | 9 | 9 |
Passing | 8 | 10 |
Penalty | 2 | 2 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-14 | 6-15 |
4th Down Conv | 1-1 | 1-3 |
Total Net Yards | 325 | 376 |
Total Plays | 72 | 77 |
Avg Gain | 4.5 | 4.9 |
Net Yards Rushing | 109 | 152 |
Rush Attempts | 36 | 37 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.0 | 4.1 |
Yards Passing | 216 | 224 |
Comp. - Att. | 20-36 | 17-40 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Penalties - Yards | 11-72 | 5-45 |
Touchdowns | 4 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 3 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-2 | 1-1 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 3 |
Punts - Avg | 5-42.2 | 4-44.5 |
Return Yards | 68 | 0 |
Punts - Returns | 3-25 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 3-43 | 1-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Ridder
9 QB
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D. Ridder | 20/36 | 210 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Ford
24 RB
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J. Ford | 20 | 66 | 2 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ridder
9 QB
|
D. Ridder | 10 | 45 | 1 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. McClelland
0 RB
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C. McClelland | 3 | 12 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. McConnell
77 OL
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V. McConnell | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Pierce
12 WR
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A. Pierce | 8 | 5 | 86 | 1 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Young Jr.
8 WR
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M. Young Jr. | 7 | 4 | 35 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Taylor
11 TE
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L. Taylor | 3 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thompson
20 WR
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J. Thompson | 4 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tucker
7 WR
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T. Tucker | 4 | 3 | 18 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Scott
21 WR
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T. Scott | 3 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Ford
24 RB
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J. Ford | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. McClelland
0 RB
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C. McClelland | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Whyle
81 TE
|
J. Whyle | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
D. Pace
20 LB
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D. Pace | 9-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Beavers
0 LB
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D. Beavers | 6-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Cook
6 S
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B. Cook | 5-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Dublanko
41 LB
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J. Dublanko | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Van Fossen
13 LB
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T. Van Fossen | 3-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bush
9 CB
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A. Bush | 2-1 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Hicks
3 S
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J. Hicks | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Vann
42 DL
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M. Vann | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Briggs
18 DL
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J. Briggs | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thomas
24 LB
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J. Thomas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Huber
2 LB
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W. Huber | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Brooks
92 DL
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C. Brooks | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Sanders
21 DL
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M. Sanders | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Brown
99 DT
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M. Brown | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Smith
17 K
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C. Smith | 1/2 | 32 | 3/4 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Fletcher
31 P
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M. Fletcher | 5 | 42.2 | 0 | 51 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Tucker
7 WR
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T. Tucker | 2 | 58.5 | 99 | 1 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
R. Montgomery 22 RB
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R. Montgomery | 2 | 15.0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tucker 7 WR
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T. Tucker | 1 | -5.0 | -5 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Penix Jr.
9 QB
|
M. Penix Jr. | 17/40 | 224 | 2 | 3 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
S. Carr
5 RB
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S. Carr | 21 | 52 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ervin-Poindexter
22 RB
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D. Ervin-Poindexter | 1 | 37 | 0 | 37 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Baldwin Jr.
20 RB
|
T. Baldwin Jr. | 9 | 30 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Matthews Jr.
7 WR
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D. Matthews Jr. | 2 | 28 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Penix Jr.
9 QB
|
M. Penix Jr. | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Matthews Jr.
7 WR
|
D. Matthews Jr. | 6 | 5 | 120 | 0 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hendershot
86 TE
|
P. Hendershot | 6 | 6 | 60 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Carr
5 RB
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S. Carr | 2 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Fryfogle
3 WR
|
T. Fryfogle | 7 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Marshall
13 WR
|
M. Marshall | 3 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bjorson
89 TE
|
M. Bjorson | 3 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Buckley
1 WR
|
C. Buckley | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ervin-Poindexter
22 RB
|
D. Ervin-Poindexter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Swinton
18 WR
|
J. Swinton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ellis
10 RB
|
D. Ellis | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
R. Anderson
10 DL
|
R. Anderson | 7-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Sanguinetti
19 DB
|
J. Sanguinetti | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jones
4 LB
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C. Jones | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Layne
0 DB
|
R. Layne | 4-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mullen
3 DB
|