OXFORD, Ohio (AP) – Isaiah Pead ran for a pair of touchdowns Saturday, and Cincinnati’s dominating defense opened the second half with a classic goal-line stand that set up a 27-0 victory over Miami of Ohio and became a reference point for the historic rivalry.
Cincinnati (4-1) has won the last six games in the nation’s oldest nonconference rivalry, played 116 times since 1888. Few have been like this one: Cincinnati’s first shutout in Oxford since a 22-0 victory in 1898.
“This one always stings a little more because it’s a rivalry game,” first-year coach Don Treadwell said. “It’s like an uppercut.”
The RedHawks (0-4) couldn’t budge the Bearcats’ defensive line, which put Cincinnati in control with the goal-line stand from inside the 1-yard line. The Bearcats then pulled away with three touchdowns in the third quarter, including Pead’s scoring runs.
Miami’s Zac Dysert finished 19 of 33 for 252 yards with an interception at the goal line and four sacks. Miami finished with minus-3 yards on 38 rushes.
“They pretty much did the same stuff we watched (on video) all week,” Dysert said. “We had a hard time getting into a rhythm.”
It was Cincinnati’s first shutout overall since a 31-0 win over Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 2, 2006. The Bearcats’ last shutout in the rivalry – played for the “Victory Bell” traveling trophy – was 17-0 in Cincinnati.
Miami hadn’t been shut out by anyone at home since a 17-0 loss to Northern Illinois in 1983, the year Yager Stadium opened.
The Bearcats overcame a season-high four turnovers, including Zach Collaros’ two end-zone interceptions and his fumble at the Miami 12-yard line. Collaros was 16 of 30 for 251 yards and scrambled 15 times for 89 yards against a defense tilted toward pass coverage.
“Their quarterback is tremendous,” Treadwell said. “He wasn’t going to be denied.”
North winds gusting to 20 mph made it tough to pass and punt. The Bearcats made it even tougher on themselves by getting careless.
Cincinnati is one of the nation’s leaders in turnover margin, losing the ball only twice in the first four games. The Bearcats had three turnovers in the first half alone on Saturday, including Collaros’ interception and fumble in scoring range.
Miami had plenty of its own problems. An 11-yard punt set Cincinnati up at midfield, and tight end Travis Kelce got open behind the safeties for a 30-yard touchdown catch. The extra-point attempt was wide, leaving it 6-0 at halftime.
Cincinnati’s defense opened the second half with a goal-line stand that crushed Miami’s chances of a comeback.
Dysert surprised Cincinnati with a 66-yard pass down the middle to Nick Harwell, who was tackled at the 1-yard line by safety Drew Frey. After two runs lost a yard, sophomore Nick Harwell was called for pushing off to get open on a catch in the end zone, nullifying what would have been a touchdown.
“They said I pushed off when I broke,” said Harwell, who became the second receiver in Miami history to have three straight 100-yard games. “I probably did a little bit. I was being physical, like the defensive back.”
Mason Krysinski then hooked a 34-yard field goal try, starting a celebration on the Bearcats sideline.
“All they needed was an inch,” Bearcats coach Butch Jones said. “You could feel the momentum change.”
Three plays later, Collaros completed a 72-yard pass to tight end Adrien Robinson, who made a juggling at-the-knees catch while safety Pat Hinke interfered with him. Pead’s 3-yard run made it 13-0.
Cincinnati then put it away with two touchdowns in an 89-second span. Pead scored on a 4-yard dive, and J.K. Schaffer returned the ball 17 yards for a touchdown off a fumble on a punt attempt for a 27-0 lead late in the third quarter.
Add A Comment