Here are 5 reasons Cincinnati’s Bearcats lost to Miami Saturday

September 17, 2023September 17, 2023 Admin

As University of Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield and players were wrapping up their post-game remarks after a 31-24 overtime loss to Miami University, the Victory Bell was being rung louder and louder.

Had UC won, it would have been a beautiful sound. But, on this Saturday night, the bell’s noise came from the RedHawks side as they earned their first win in the series since 2005.

“I’m very disappointed obviously for the players in the room back there,” Satterfield said. “Very disappointed that we didn’t get it for a lot of factors. The main factor was the inability to score touchdowns in the red zone. That was the biggest factor in the game. We then settled for a couple of field goals on fourth down. That’s the difference in the game.”

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Yahsyn McKee intercepted Emory Jones in the end zone to end UC’s chances of tying the game on their overtime possession. The winning score came on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brett Gabbert to Joe Wilkins Jr. on Miami’s possession in the extra period.

“My receiver fell down,” Jones said of the interception. “I thought it was a PI (pass interference) but we didn’t get it and that’s how it turned out.”

Near the end of regulation, UC could have won but Carter Brown’s 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by McKee.

Miami ties the series at 60-60-7. It was their first overtime win in the rivalry and it ended a nine-game night game win streak UC had dating back to 2017.

Both UC and Miami are now 2-1 on the season with the RedHawks getting the happy bus ride back to Oxford.

Here are five observations from UC’s first Victory Bell loss in nearly 18 years:

1) On a blackout night, UC had red zone woes vs. RedHawks

The Bearcats entered the red zone eight times but only converted on five, with just two touchdowns. Corey Kiner scored in the first quarter, then Emory Jones in the fourth when UC briefly led.

UC had to bring on Carter Brown to kick field goals four times. He finished 3-of-4 with the potential game-winner blocked. The other times UC came away empty-handed.

“A couple times I thought we were there and just didn’t get in,” Satterfield said. “We didn’t do a whole lot down there. I thought they (Miami) did a really nice job upfront. Their linebackers were playing downhill to stop the run game. We couldn’t spit any out into the endzone.”

2) While UC settled for field goals, Miami scored touchdowns as UC had just two sacks.

The RedHawks scored touchdowns every time they got close except for the 20-yard Graham Nicholson field goal with 3:09 left. Defensive lineman Malik Vann and safety Bryon Threats had sacks, but Miami’s Brett Gabbert threw for three touchdowns and ran for 75 yards.

“Gabbert did a great job all game of seeing the pressure and seeing where we were flushing to and getting vertical,” Briggs said.

One of several locals on UC’s defense, Briggs was not pleased losing to the RedHawks who now gain bragging rights for a year.

“It’s very aggravating,” he said. “For everyone that came before me, I apologize. That was not our best game. This was my last chance at it. I’m just going to put my all into the corrections we do and make sure our team does the same thing.”

3) Miami’s McKee played the D

Yahsyn McKee is a 5-10, 162-pound senior who blocked Brown’s possible game-winning field goal, then won the game for Miami picking off Jones in the end zone as the white jerseys sprinted onto the field.

4) Jones puts up numbers, but pass game stalls

Jones had his first 100-plus-yard rushing game with 101 yards and a touchdown. Passing-wise he finished 18-for-34 for 265 yards but was intercepted twice and sacked twice.

He was able to locate Xzavier Henderson 12 times for 140 yards, but could only get the ball to Braden Smith once.

“I just took what they gave me,” Jones said. “They’re on scholarship too.”

5) Bright side? Second-half rushing numbers

The Bearcats outpassed Miami 265 yards to 237 and outrushed them 273-123. The Bearcats had just 79 yards at halftime but Jones finished at 101 and Ryan Montgomery had a career-high 104 yards.

“We have three starting running backs,” Jones said. “He was the guy that was hot today, so we just stuck with him. He was out there making plays.”

Next up?

UC had hoped to come into their Big 12 opener with the momentum of a 3-0 record. Now they have to regroup and prepare for an Oklahoma team that drilled Tulsa 66-17 on Saturday.

“They’re riding high right now and playing pretty well,” Satterfield said. “We have to come in and have a great week. There’s no time to have a pity party and start feeling sorry for ourselves I can tell you that. We’ve got to come in and get to work.”

CINCINNATI 10 3 3 8 0 24

MIAMI 7 7 7 3 7 31

M– Gabbert 79-yard pass to Larvadain (Nicholson kick)

UC– Kiner 4-yard run (Brown kick)

UC– Brown 28-yard FG

M– Gabbert 17-yard pass to Javon Tracy (Nicholson kick)

UC – Brown 23-yard FG

UC– Brown 23-yard FG

M– Davis 1-yard run (Nicholson kick)

UC– Jones 17-yard run (Jones pass to Metayer)

M– Nicholason 20-yard FG

M– Gabbert 8-yard pass to Wilkins (Nicholson kick)