The start of a season is a great thing. Hope springs eternal. We all hoped that Munchie Legaux would play well. We all hoped that one of the running backs would step up. We all hoped that the defense would make big plays. All of those things happened tonight. The Bearcats forced a 3 and out on the opening drive. On the first offensive play, George Winn ran 58 yards for a TD. The next drive ended with a 15 yard TD catch from Ralph David Abernathy IV. In just 5 minutes, the Bearcats had a lead that would never be challenged. Out of all the ways to start the season, this was right up there under the ideal scenarios. No one was hurt. The offense racked up 464 yards. The defense was constantly in the backfield when Tino Sunseri went back to pass. When Pitt drove deep into UC territory, Greg Blair picked off Sunseri in the end zone. When the Panthers had a chance to make it 17-3 late in the first half, Sunseri triple pumped and threw the ball through the uprights as time expired. Everything came up Cincinnati.
Munchie Legaux was pretty solid in his first game as the starter. He was 14-28 for 205 yards. He hit Ralph David Abernathy for a pair of TDs. He was the Bearcats leading rusher with 117 yards on 6 carries. The most impressive was a 77 yarder he broke with an unbelievable stutter step on the Pitt defensive end to get him free. Accuracy was an issue tonight. Let's be honest, it's going to be an issue for the early part of the season. And hopefully just the early part of the season.
Ralph David Abernathy IV was electrifying tonight. He had a 13 yard run. He had 4 catches for 71 yards. He caught short passes and turned the corner so quickly. Pitt had trouble wrapping him up as well. He's going to be a big time weapon in the offense.
George Winn had 95 yards on 11 carries. He ran for 2 scores. He got a majority of his yards on the 58 yard run. His other 10 runs resulted in 3.7 yards a carry, which really isn't that great. But the 58 yard run pushed his average to 8.6 yards a carry. Jameel Poteat broke a 23 yard run. All the running backs had a play of over 25 yards.
The defense was very solid. The pass rush dominated the Pittsburgh line. Walter Stewart had 2 sacks and a forced fumble. John Williams had 2 sacks in his Cincinnati debut. Nick Temple got Sunseri once. Elijah Shuler got one on the final drive. Dan Giordano was an absolute beast. The defense was good, the rush was great.
Greg Blair played pretty well. He had the INT in the red zone and almost had one on the opening drive. Good first start.
Everything is sunshine and roses tonight. The Cincinnati Bearcats are 1-0. Nippert was packed. Everyone is healthy. It's all good, peeps. Enjoy the win.
ESPN Box Score
Team Stat Comparison
| | PITT | CIN |
| 1st Downs |
23 |
19 |
| 3rd down efficiency |
7-18 |
6-13 |
| 4th down efficiency |
2-2 |
0-0 |
| Total Yards |
415 |
464 |
| Passing |
278 |
205 |
| Comp-Att |
24-37 |
14-28 |
| Yards per pass |
7.5 |
7.3 |
| Rushing |
137 |
259 |
| Rushing Attempts |
42 |
31 |
| Yards per rush |
3.3 |
8.4 |
| Penalties |
8-62 |
7-52 |
| Turnovers |
2 |
0 |
| Fumbles lost |
1 |
0 |
| Interceptions thrown |
1 |
0 |
| Possession |
36:12 |
23:48 |
| Pittsburgh Passing |
| | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
| T. Sunseri |
24/37 |
278 |
7.5 |
1 |
1 |
| Team | 24/37 | 278 | 7.5 | 1 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Passing |
| | C/ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | INT |
| M. Legaux |
14/28 |
205 |
7.3 |
2 |
0 |
| Team | 14/28 | 205 | 7.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Interceptions |
| | INT | YDS | TD |
| Team | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Interceptions |
| | INT | YDS | TD |
| G. Blair |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Team | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pittsburgh Punt Returns |
| | NO | YDS | AVG | LG |
| C. Saddler |
3 |
33 |
11.0 |
18 |
| Team | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 18 |
| Cincinnati Punt Returns |
| | NO | YDS | AVG | LG |
| A. McClung |
4 |
55 |
13.8 |
29 |
| Team | 4 | 55 | 13.8 | 29 |
| Pittsburgh Kicking |
| | FG | PCT | LONG | XP | PTS |
| K. Harper |
1/1 |
100.0 |
37 |
1/1 |
4 |
| Team | 1/1 | 100.0 | 37 | 1/1 | 4 |
| Cincinnati Kicking |
| | FG | PCT | LONG | XP | PTS |
| T. Miliano |
2/2 |
100.0 |
46 |
4/4 |
10 |
| Team | 2/2 | 100.0 | 46 | 4/4 | 10 |
| Pittsburgh Punting |
| | TOT | YDS | AVG | TB | -20 | LG |
| M. Yoklic |
7 |
317 |
45.3 |
1 |
2 |
54 |
| Team | 7 | 317 | 45.3 | 1 | 2 | 54 |
| Cincinnati Punting |
| | TOT | YDS | AVG | TB | -20 | LG |
| P. O'Donnell |
5 |
216 |
43.2 |
1 |
1 |
46 |
| Team | 5 | 216 | 43.2 | 1 | 1 | 46 |
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