After a hard loss in Boulder against Colorado, Cincinnati came off the bye week to face the West Virginia Mountaineers (WVU), also coming off of a bye week. WVU entered with a 4-4 record, while UC came in with 5-3.
WVU got the ball first, immediately giving up the ball on downs, placing the Bearcats at the 28. Sorsby started the game strong, doing his usual routine of running the ball himself and taking some hits—a pitch to Corey Kiner to the corner of the endzone for the first score of the game.
On UC’s next possession, on a fourth and one at the WVU 20-yard line, Sorsby came under pressure from Mountaineer Kekoura Tarnue. As Sorsby went down, he tried to flip the ball away, but it was intercepted by Anthony Wilson Jr., who returned it for a touchdown. Sorsby’s attempt to save an already bad play just made things much worse.
The game was even at seven a piece to start the second quarter. The Bearcats had the ball. And just three plays in, another turnover. Rushing the ball up the middle, a light tap from Tarnue was enough to knock the ball loose from Sorsby, with WVU recovering at the UC 37. Luckily the defense was able to hold them to just a field goal.
After back-to-back miscues, the Bearcats were unable to score for the rest of the half. Sorsby seemed shaken, throwing incomplete passes left and right. In the past, Sorsby has been able to regain his confidence and shake off his mistakes, but two turnovers in a row seemed to do him in for the first half. The offensive line repeatedly let the pressure get through, making Sorsby scramble more often than not.
With five minutes left in the half, Cincinnati punted, and let WVU right on through, returning for 29 yards, brought down by the punter Mason Fletcher. The nonexistent defense continued letting WVU have their explosive plays and scoring their second touchdown of the half with ease.
Trailing 17-7 at the half, things were slow to start the third quarter. A quick three and out featuring a mid-air leaping sack of Sorsby and another appearance from punter Mason Fletcher.
WVU worked fast, capitalizing on the Bearcat’s miscues. A false start penalty on West Virginia on third and five pushed them back five yards, but WVU quarterback Nicco Marchiol threw a beautiful 38-yard pass to Traylon Ray to put them at the 14-yard line. A quick six-play drive to the house, added to their lead.
Cincinnati just couldn’t seem to get out of their own way. Down 24-7, Sorsby on the move with pressure on him made a great last-second throw for a first down. But flags flew, and an ineligible receiver downfield penalty pushed UC back five yards and they replayed the down. A false start pushed them even further back, and Mason Fletcher once again made an appearance.
On a third at the Cincinnati 22, Nicco Marchiol, who threw dimes all day, was intercepted in the endzone by Rodney Gallagher III. After three quarters of less than five play drives, UC finally stepped up to score their first points since the first five minutes of the game. Sorsby again in trouble with pressure from all sides threw to Pryor, flying 80 yards for a touchdown.
This turned the tide for UC. The defense started applying pressure on all ends, WVU couldn’t get more than a few yards per play. Down 24-14 to start the 4th quarter, the UC offense was trying desperately to get back in the game. Sorsby kicked it into gear, with a 17-yard run, and a 12-yard rush into the endzone.
Remarkably, they were back in the game, down by just three. On the Cincinnati 27, the pressure going at Sorsby again, he fumbled, and WVU scooped and scored. Fans at Nippert were absolutely stunned. With a field goal on the next drive, time ran out. The Bearcats fell to WVU 31-24.
The biggest takeaway from this game is that nobody can count this team out no matter the circumstance. The lack of offensive production for most of the game just seems to make them more eager to score. Sorsby has shown time and time again that he can shake most mistakes off. And in this game, there were many, all on him. But coming back from a large deficit, getting within a field goal, with some explosive plays, made their loss even more devastating.
The offensive line was horrendous. I am so surprised Sorsby had anything left in the tank by the end of the game with how much he was being chased down. Most of their turnovers were the result of intense pressure, and no outlet for Sorsby to get the ball to. UC’s starting right guard Luke Kandra was out for the game, and his absence was definitely felt.
The defense struggled with the pass, but Marchiol was excellent for most of the game. They can only have so much momentum and power with a dormant offense. I saw way more Mason Fletcher than I wanted to, but he’s getting his reps in, and showing how far he can boot the ball.
The Bearcats missed an opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility this week, as they march to Iowa State this Saturday for a night game.
Charlie Jaeb heads up Bearcat Football coverage for Cincinnati Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter @CharlieJaeb.
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