Photo via Yahoo Sports

UC Bearcats stop WVU Mountaineers run game, but get exploited in air

The Cincinnati Bearcats entered their showdown with West Virginia aiming to dismantle the Mountaineers' feared rushing attack, but a late-game surge from quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. turned the tide.

Hawkins, who had never surpassed 300 passing yards in a game, threw for 464 yards and three touchdowns, including a 41-yard bomb to Prince Strachan that shifted momentum with under two minutes left. Despite holding Cam Cook and Hawkins to just 40 and 77 rushing yards respectively, the Bearcats' defensive struggles in pass coverage allowed WVU to capitalize, ultimately winning 45-42 on a Jack Cassidy field goal.

Cincinnati’s offense, led by JC French IV (22/30, 389 yards, 3 TD), dominated the ground game with 233 rushing yards, but defensive miscues in the secondary cost them the victory after six leads throughout the game.

The loss stings even more given Cincinnati’s preparation focus on stopping WVU’s run game, which entered the contest as the FBS’s most productive tandem with 1,465 combined yards. Head coach Scott Satterfield admitted his team’s inability to execute on third downs in the passing game, particularly against Hawkins’ deep throws, proved decisive.

While Cole Tabb (118 yards) and Gi'Bran Payne (26 yards) carried the Bearcats’ rushing attack, injuries and missed tackles in the secondary left them vulnerable to Hawkins’ precision. The Mountaineers’ late-game execution, including a clutch field goal, sealed a narrow win despite Cincinnati’s overall offensive dominance and superior rushing yards (233 to 134).

Up nextCollege Football· 25m ago

College football winners and losers: Savor the significance of Week 7's chaos, because it disappears with the 24-team playoff