Recap: RedHawks lose a heartbreaker in the Battle for the Victory Bell

The Miami University RedHawks (1-2) lost to the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0) 35-31 at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The game started off with a bang as freshmen wide receiver Scoop Smith returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The return is Smith’s first touchdown of his career.

Redshirt-freshman quarterback David McComb would take the field with a seven-point cushion and continue his stellar play from the previous game. Sophomore running back Lazaro Rogers would put the RedHawks into the endzone with a 12 yard rushing touchdown. The score was 14-0 Miami before the first media timeout.

Cincinnati’s second possession would prove more successful. Fifth-year quarterback JC French IV led the Bearcats on a 75-yard touchdown drive punctuated by junior running back Cole Tabb.

The RedHawk offense would get going again midway into the second quarter. McComb hit redshirt-junior wide receiver Lynel Billups-Williams for 35 yards to start the possession. After a series of procedural penalties, McComb would use his arm and legs to get the RedHawks offensive momentum. McComb hit junior wide receiver Damarion Witten and senior wide receiver Maleek Huggins to push further into Cincinnati territory.

McComb proved his dual-threat ability scoring a rushing touchdown of his own. The RedHawks took up six minutes of game time and drove the ball 91 yards for their third touchdown of the game.

French would get the Bearcats offense moving again in response to the Miami touchdown. Wide receivers Malachi Henry and Isaiah Johnson both caught passes for third down conversions. Fifth-year linebacker Blayne Myrick stopped the Cincinnati momentum, tackling running back Zion Johnson for a loss of eight yards.

Miami would get the chance to run their two-minute offense at the end of the first half, and they ran it to perfection. McComb rushed for a total of 18 yards on the drive and efficiently moved the RedHawks down the field. The drive was capitalized by a 36-yard touchdown pass from McComb to Huggins.

The touchdown put an exclamation mark on what was a near-perfect half for the RedHawks. They went into halftime leading 28-7.

The Cincinnati defense held strong after a turnover on downs, holding the RedHawks to a field goal attempt by redshirt-junior kicker Kellan McLaughlin. The kick was blocked leaving Miami empty handed on their drive.

After driving down the field, French called his own number, and Cincinnati scored their second touchdown of the game bringing the score to 28-14 Miami halfway through the third quarter.

Miami got the ball back and McComb made his first mistake of the game. Junior defensive back Kenny Worthy intercepted McComb on a pass intended for Huggins, giving the Bearcats the ball back on the RedHawk 28 yard-line.

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Cincinnati scored again on a screen pass from French to Tabb. This brought the game to just a seven-point lead for Miami and 14 unanswered points for the Bearcats, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Miami got the momentum change they needed on the first play of their next drive. McComb hit Huggins again for a 50-yard gain. On the same play, Cincinnati committed a roughing the passer penalty giving the RedHawks deep in Bearcat territory immediately.

Cincinnati’s defense held strong after that. A goal line stand forced a Miami field goal attempt. McLaughlin converted and brought the score to 31-21 Miami with 14 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati got the ball back and quickly marched down to midfield. Lyons then forced a fumble from French to give the RedHawks the ball back on the Cincinnati 41-yard line.

Miami was once again forced to settle for a field goal. McLaughlin missed his 45 yard attempt wide right. Cincinnati got the ball back on their own 27-yard line.

The Bearcats took advantage of the miscue and drove the length of the field scoring a touchdown on a pass from French to fifth-year wide receiver JV Gibson. This brought the score to 31-28 RedHawks, with six minutes remaining in the game.

With the ball back and facing a crucial third down and long McComb connected with Witten on a 33-yard completion up the middle allowing Miami to retain possession and continue to bleed time off the clock. But the RedHawks were forced to punt.

Cincinnati got the ball back. After taking the ball to midfield Tabb broke through for a 53 yard rushing touchdown. For the first time all day, Miami trailed. This brought the score to 35-31 Bearcats, with just a minute and a half remaining in the game.

The RedHawk offense had one more chance to retake the lead and win the game. McComb connected with Huggins once again, this time for 24 yards.

McComb fumbled the ball with 36 seconds left. Antwan Peek forced the fumble and Cincinnati got the ball back going into victory formation, winning 35-31.

Huggins finished the day with 128 receiving yards, a career high. McComb threw for 334 yards which is his career high as well.

“That’s why we do what we do,” head coach Chuck Martin said after the game. Martin was visibly emotional, taking long pauses and shaking his head.

“I can’t really think of a harder loss I’ve had than that,” Martin said.

Lyons, a five-year player for the RedHawks and Cincinnati native, believes in this RedHawk team despite the defeat.

“We’re going to be a good football team; I have no doubt about that,” Lyons said.

It was Cincinnati’s largest comeback since 2018, recovering from a 28-7 deficit. The RedHawks are back in action next week at Yager Stadium for the homecoming game against the University of Connecticut Huskies. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

jollifvm@miamioh.edu