Cincinnati Bearcats @ Miami RedHawks Football Recap

Cincinnati 27, Miami (Ohio) 0

For most of the past several seasons, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health, the Cincinnati Bearcats have lacked a quality defense. On Saturday, the Cincinnati football family and the presence of a lockdown defense got married at long last. We’ll see how long the marriage can endure, however.

Yes, the opponent was a winless team from the Mid-American Conference, a team trying to defend its MAC title without the man – Mike Haywood – who coached the program to glory one season ago. Yet, for all the struggles being experienced by the Miami University RedHawks, it’s still impressive that a Cincinnati defense could play as well as it did this past weekend.

Against North Carolina State in week four, it was the Cincinnati offense that ground out a win at home. On the road against in-state rival Miami (OH), the Bearcats smothering defense pitched a shutout in a 27-0 win. The convincing performance displayed yet again that, outside of the anomalous meltdown against Tennessee, the Cincinnati defense has gone from being a team weakness to a team strength. In 2010, the defense continually let the team down. In 2011, the Bearcats have forced turnovers, harassed opposing quarterbacks, and gotten the ball back to their explosive offense. Against Miami (OH), the Bearcats defense forced two turnovers and held the RedHawks to just 264 yards of total offense. They also sacked Miami quarterback Zac Dysert four times and held the RedHawks to minus-3 yards rushing.

It’s worth pointing out that even when Cincinnati won back-to-back Big East championships under former coach Brian Kelly, the team’s defense got gashed on a fairly regular basis. UC won titles because Kelly’s offense was so thoroughly explosive. Any time the Bearcats can throw a goose-egg on the opponent’s side of the scoreline, it’s an occasion worth noting and circling in bright red.

Offensively, the Bearcats continued their reliance on a powerful running game. Tailback Isaiah Pead was harassed and held to just 49 yards, but did score two touchdowns. Cincinnati continues to take advantage of quarterback Zach Collaros’ ability to run as he added 89 yards on the ground to his 251 yards through the air. The offense, explosive a week prior, was hampered by four turnovers, two of them coming on interceptions by Collaros. The Bearcats have a bye week before hosting Big East rival Louisville in the battle for the Keg of Nails.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer