Cole Tabb ran for a career-high 173 yards and a touchdown, and JC French IV threw a career-high four touchdown passes, as Cincinnati stunned No. 8 Texas Tech 37-24 on Saturday at Nippert Stadium. It was the Bearcats’ first win over a top-10 team at home since November 18, 2006, when they beat No. 7 Rutgers 30-11.
Cincinnati Bearcats (Credits: ESPN)
The Red Raiders arrived unbeaten and chasing a 7-0 start for the first time since 2013, but they were plagued by mistakes all afternoon. Cincinnati, meanwhile, snapped a two-game skid and improved to 5-2, handing Texas Tech its first loss of the season.
Cincinnati Texas Tech 37-24: Second-Quarter Blitz Turns the Game
Texas Tech actually led 6-3 after settling for field goals on early drives, with quarterback Will Hammond losing a fumble and taking an intentional grounding penalty. Then Cincinnati exploded for 21 points in the second quarter.
Tabb’s four-yard touchdown catch put the Bearcats ahead 10-6, and Malachi Henry’s five-yard scoring grab extended the lead to 17-6 with 1:37 left in the half. Following an interception by MJ Cannon, Cincinnati drove 75 yards in 27 seconds, with Tabb’s 51-yard run setting up a two-yard touchdown catch by tight end Lyviel Waters for a 24-6 halftime lead.
Texas Tech Rallies, but French’s Fourth TD and Tabb’s 58-Yarder Seal It
Texas Tech fought back in the third quarter, with Stone Harrington’s field goals and a 53-yard interception-return touchdown by Peyton Morgan cutting the gap to 24-15 after the two-point attempt failed. Cincinnati answered immediately with a nine-play, 80-yard drive, capped by French’s fourth touchdown pass, a 17-yarder to Larenzo Fenner.
Tabb then broke loose for a 58-yard touchdown run with six minutes left to make it 37-18 and seal the upset. The Stanford transfer finished with 173 yards on 16 carries, topping 100 yards rushing for the third time in four games. French finished 19 of 30 for 172 yards, while Hammond threw for 227 yards on 24-of-37 passing for Texas Tech.
For Cincinnati, it was the biggest win of head coach Scott Satterfield’s tenure and a statement result ahead of a daunting run-in that includes current No. 10 Utah at Nippert Stadium on Halloween. Texas Tech fell to 6-1, its perfect start over.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
