Cincinnati Bearcats defensive lineman Marquaze Parker (98) tackles Houston Cougars wide receiver Devan Williams (8) in the second quarter of the College Football game at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
Brendan Sorsby completed 12 of 15 passes for 188 yards, including a pair of touchdown passes to Xzavier Henderson, to lead the Cincinnati Bearcats (3-1, 1-0) to a 34-0 victory over the visiting Houston Cougars (1-3, 0-1) in the Big 12 opener for both teams.
Cincinnati recorded its first scoreless victory since Nov. 3, 2018, when the Bearcats defeated Navy, 42-0, at Nippert Stadium.
Corey Kiner ran for a 44-yard touchdown and finished with 78 yards on 16 carries. Cincinnati kicker Nathan Hawks, who kicked a pair of 50-plus-yard field goals in last week’s win over Miami of Ohio, converted two other opportunities Saturday.
Houston quarterback Donovan Smith completed 11 of 16 passes, but for only 73 yards.
Cincinnati took advantage of an early turnover to take the lead in the first quarter. Cincinnati safety Josh Minkins intercepted Smith at the Cougars’ 45-yard line.
Three plays later, Sorsby threw the first of his two touchdown passes, a 19-yard connection to Henderson that put UC ahead 7-0. Corey Kiner doubled Cincinnati’s lead late in the first quarter when Kiner made his 44-yard touchdown run.
Another Sorsby-to-Henderson 15-yard connection with just under seven minutes remaining in the second quarter made it 21-0 Cincinnati.
Houston put together its best offense to open the second half, but Derrick Canteen forced a fumble at the end of a 20-yard run by Re’Shaun Sanford II. Tre Gola-Callard recovered it at the Cincinnati 11 to end Houston’s threat. The 20-yard run was Houston’s longest play from scrimmage on the day.
Sorsby responded quickly by engineering an eight-play, 89-yard drive, highlighted by his perfect 47-yard pass on a post route to Sterling Berkhalter, putting the Bearcats at the Houston 8-yard line. Two plays later, Sorsby ran into the end zone over a straggling QB keeper, putting Cincinnati up, 31-0.
Sorsby, who opened the game by completing 12 of his first 13 passes for 188 yards, was replaced by backup Brady Lichtenberg in the fourth quarter.
–Field level media
