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Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats Big Saturday night game at Colorado

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2 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats Big Saturday night game at Colorado

BOULDER, Colo.– A pivotal flip of occasions earlier than halftime of the Cincinnati Bearcats sport at Colorado resulted in a significant swing for the Buffaloes as they grew to become bowl-eligible Saturday night time with a 34-23 victory.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was 25-for-30 passing for 323 yards and a pair of touchdowns to two-way participant Travis Hunter. The back-breaker for UC got here on a 34-yard landing toss with three seconds left within the first half. Each Sanders and Hunter will likely be excessive picks within the 2025 NFL Draft.

UC was tied with Colorado twice however by no means held the lead.

Bearcats lose momentum to Colorado

The Bearcats and Buffaloes have been knotted at 14 early within the second quarter, however Alejandro Mata put Colorado up with 3:28 left with a 28-yard subject aim. The Bearcats had the ball and an opportunity to tie or lead at halftime in the event that they delivered. With 33 seconds left and UC on the Colorado 46-yard line, it was fourth and a yard. On the quarterback keeper, Brendan Sorsby was stopped.

“Clearly in your head you assume you are going to get it,” Sorsby mentioned. “I feel they did an important job up entrance not permitting us to get a lot push. I’ve nonetheless obtained to discover a option to get one yard.”

That left 31 seconds for quarterback Shedueur Sanders to function, which on this night time was an excessive amount of. Sanders related on a 34-yard landing to Travis Hunter earlier than the half. As a substitute of a tie or lead, the Bearcats trailed by 10.

“We did not need to give them the ball again for apparent causes,” UC head coach Scott Satterfield mentioned. “To me, that was the play of the sport. We give the ball again to them they usually have been capable of go. We did not put our protection in a great place.”

The Buffaloes added an Isaiah Augustave speeding landing late within the third quarter to make it 17 unanswered factors. Down 31-14, UC reduce the lead on a Nathan Hawks subject aim, then Sorsby related on a 6-yard landing go to Joe Royer with 3:51 left. A 2-point conversion failed, and Mata barely cleared the crossbar on a 47-yard subject aim, which made for the 34-23 last.

“I am a little bit upset at how we landed,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders mentioned of the sport’s finish. “Mata was phenomenal doing what he did. Nice group. They (Cincinnati) wasn’t going to surrender. It is a testomony to their coaches and their employees. They performed their butts off.”

Colorado improved to 6-2 (4-1 Large 12) with the Bearcats dropping to 5-3 (3-2 Large 12).

Why go for two late within the sport?

With an additional level, UC may have trailed 31-24 after the Royer landing. Nonetheless, in teaching circles the metrics level towards a 2-point conversion in comparable conditions.

“It’s the math,” Satterfield mentioned. “If you do not get that, then you have to get the following one. Should you get that and also you kick the following one and theoretically if you happen to cease them with out a subject aim you win the sport. Particularly, on the highway. Had we been at residence, we might most likely kick the additional level.”

Shedeur Sanders vs Brendan Sorsby quarterback comparability

Perhaps Sheduer Sanders appeared higher doing it, however each quarterbacks had their efficient moments. Sanders accomplished his first 15 passes and had a speeding landing earlier than halftime. He accomplished all however 5 of his passes.

“We take it with no consideration how good this younger man is,” Coach Sanders mentioned. “I’d be saying that even when he wasn’t my son.”

Sorsby struggled passing towards the Colorado protection, whereas a Sanders incompletion was uncommon.

“They’re rather a lot higher group this 12 months due to what they do defensively,” Satterfield mentioned.

Sorsby was capable of string collectively some completions late and his 6-yard go to Joe Royer reduce the deficit to 31-23. A late subject aim by Alejandro Mata made for the 34-23 last. Sorsby completed 16-for-30 for 180 yards. Tony Johnson and Joe Royer each had 4 catches and a landing within the sport.

Cincinnati Bearcats vs Colorado Buffaloes speeding offense

UC held the 85-49 edge at halftime, however the yards have been hard-earned with Kiner gaining 32 and Sorsby 29. Colorado appeared decided to out-physical the Bearcats. Augustave, an Arkansas switch, had his finest sport in Boulder and helped Colorado chew the clock up on the finish. He completed with 91 yards on 22 carries with one landing.

“We made a acutely aware effort originally of the week that we have been going to run the soccer,” Coach Sanders mentioned.

Corey Kiner ran onerous all night time and completed with 94 yards plus 4 catches for eight yards.

What did Colorado’s Travis Hunter do?

There’s not a lot that he cannot do. He made the primary hit on the primary play of the sport, a go meant for Xzavier Henderson. Then at 9:32 of the primary quarter, Shedeur Sanders noticed Hunter at the back of the tip zone. Hunter had 113 receiving yards within the first half alone with two touchdowns. He completed with 9 catches for 153 yards plus two tackles and three go break-ups on protection.

Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and LaJohntay Wester’s velocity was most noticeable. As soon as they turned on the jets, they have been tough to catch.

“Clearly, they’ve nice gamers, nice abilities, receiver corps throughout,” UC defensive again Derrick Canteen mentioned. “Greater than something, they simply did an excellent job executing. Every week you go and play gifted gamers, receivers, working backs and every week on this convention it is expertise throughout, velocity throughout.”

Was the time zone or altitude an element?

Altitude wasn’t as a lot an element as was the Mountain time momentum. Despite the fact that UC has gotten sooner, Colorado nonetheless has the sting in that division.

The Bearcats would not get residence till early breakfast crowd time on Sunday (estimated 6:45 a.m. earlier than they left). Thankfully, they’ve a bye week forward. Whereas the Large 12 tries to accommodate faculties that cross time zones, it nonetheless is usually a battle on the physique clock.

“It is powerful when it’s important to play this late and journey this far and all of the issues that go together with it, however I nonetheless love the way in which our youngsters completed and fought,” Satterfield mentioned.

Luke Kandra replace

The guard was down early within the sport and returned, however then later left the sector and did not return.

“Late within the season like this you’ve got obtained numerous nicks and bruises,” Satterfield mentioned. “Dontay (Corleone) went down, Kandra went down. We’ll must see how he’s. He was not capable of end the sport.”

Subsequent within the Large 12 for Cincinnati

The Bearcats have a bye and reconvene at Nippert Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9 towards West Virginia. That sport will rejoice the a centesimal anniversary of Nippert as UC faces its former Large East rivals. Sport time might be introduced Monday. The Mountaineers performed Arizona in Tucson Saturday night time, successful 31-26 to go to 4-4. Once more, UC is a win away from bowl eligibility and their subsequent alternative is at residence.

“There’s numerous ball left,” Satterfield mentioned. “4 extra video games. We have two losses within the Large 12. There’s numerous stuff that may occur on this convention. I feel everyone is aware of how anyone can beat anyone on this convention relying on journey, relying on accidents. It is nonetheless huge open.”

Colorado can also be off subsequent week. The Buffaloes will likely be at Texas Tech Nov. 9.

Former WCW, WWE star Goldberg takes in UC vs. Colorado

Wrestling legend Invoice Goldberg has a son, Gage Goldberg on the Buffaloes. Earlier than he was power-slamming foes, Invoice Goldberg was a defensive deal with with the Georgia Bulldogs and later the Atlanta Falcons, the place certainly one of his teammates was Deion Sanders.