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    • The collapse of the Bearcats leads to the defeat against the Pitt Panthers, the first of the season
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    The collapse of the Bearcats leads to the defeat against the Pitt Panthers, the first of the season

    Madoc Meredith Posted on

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    On a day honoring their 2008 Big East football champions, the 2024 University of Cincinnati Bearcats lost a winnable game to Pitt after leading 27-6 in the third quarter. Ben Sauls kicked a 35-yard field goal, giving Pitt 22 unanswered points. UC had 17 seconds to react and couldn’t. The game ended in a circus series of three rings of lateral throws that missed.

    In an unlikely comeback, Pitt won 28-27.

    Although UC is now in the Big 12 and Pitt is in the ACC, the River City Rivalry had its moments. UC held a 17-6 halftime lead that grew to 27-6 with 4:50 left in the third quarter. Pitt then scored 19 unanswered points and trailed 27-25 with 5:40 left in the game. The Sauls’ field goal capped their biggest comeback since Oct. 9, 1971, when they trailed Navy 35-10 at halftime and won 36-35.

    Cincinnati Bearcats’ takeaways from Week 2 against Pitt Panthers

    Was the Nippert Stadium loud enough?

    Before his arrival, Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told the Pittsburgh media that he did not believe Nippert would be any louder than he was at a recent Pitt practice where noise was played to simulate a rush.

    Naruzzi’s last game as coach at Nippert was UC’s Nov. 18, 2006, upset loss to No. 7 Rutgers. That ultimately led to Mark Dantonio moving to Michigan State and Narduzzi succeeding him after he briefly served as UC’s interim coach before Central Michigan’s Brian Kelly was hired. The crowd of 27,804 that night was loud, as were the roughly 38,000 fans on Saturday.

    There was a notable eruption when Cincinnati’s Joe Royer greeted the packed student section after a 16-yard touchdown, his first with the Bearcats, but the 37,992 fans at Nippert Stadium were dead silent after Sauls converted the game-winning field goal.

    Who was better? Brendan Sorsby or Eli Holstein?

    Sorsby was Big 12 Newcomer of the Week in UC’s opener against Towson and Holstein was ACC Rookie of the Week in Pitt’s opener against Kent State.

    In the first half, Sorsby was 13 of 22 for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while Holstein was 7 of 17 for 91 yards.

    On his first drive of the second half, Sorsby threw his third touchdown pass of the day, setting up a 16-yard touchdown to Joe Royer, his first with the Bearcats. It was Sorsby’s third touchdown pass, tying his career high. He finished the game completing 22 of 38 passes for 290 yards, but left the field behind center for a loss.

    Holstein shone in the second half.

    He was responsible for Pitt’s first touchdown, an 11-yard touchdown to Konata Mumpfield late in the third quarter. Holstein got a one-on-one look at Mumpfield from 38 yards out early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 27-19. Holstein then threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Desmond Reid, who ran 56 yards for the touchdown. Eric Phillips sacked Holstein on the 2-point conversion and UC maintained the 27-25 lead.

    Holstein’s 34-yard pass to Mumpfield put the Panthers in good scoring position late, and Sauls made a 35-yard field goal. Holstein was 20-for-35 for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

    Another day full of premieres for the Cincinnati Bearcats

    UC stopped Pitt’s first attempt to score when Josh Minkins Jr. intercepted Holstein. It was his first interception for UC and his third overall (transfer from Louisville). Later, Sorsby found Jamoi Mayes, a Chattanooga/UAB transfer, running down the right sideline for a 52-yard touchdown, Mayes’ first with the Bearcats.

    Later in the first quarter, UC’s first catch was a 5-yard throw from Sorsby by Tony Johnson, who transferred from Florida Atlantic. Before the first half ended, Tyrin Smith, who transferred from UTEP, had his first UC catch and Corey Kiner, who hadn’t caught a pass in week one, had two catches.

    Joe Royer joins the list

    Not to be outdone, Elder High product Joe Royer was part of UC’s first drive of the second half, catching a 16-yard touchdown to “part the Red Sea” in front of the red-clad student block. It was Royer’s first touchdown for the Bearcats after five catches against Towson.

    Corey Kiner reaches the 100 mark again

    A year ago, UC running back Corey Kiner rushed for a career-high 153 yards. On Saturday, he broke the 100-yard mark for the first time, midway through the third quarter. A week earlier, the Pitt defense had allowed Kent State just 31 rushing yards.

    For Kiner, this would be the eighth game of his career in which he rushed for over 100 yards, scoring 149 yards.

    Where is the paddle wheel?

    Under Brian Kelly, it became the River City Rivalry, with the winner receiving a paddle wheel, much like the winner of UC/Miami received the Victory Bell and the winner of UC/Louisville received the barrel of nails. Before last year’s game at Pitt, Panthers leadership decided not to use the former Big East traveling trophy, so the physical salute to the Steamboats remains in an undisclosed location somewhere in the Richard E. Lindner Center.

    How did Dontay Corleone fare when he returned?

    In his first game since recovering from a blood clot condition in mid-June, Corleone received huge applause when he was announced as one of UC’s starters. He had two tackles and a quarterback hurry in the first half, which may not sound like much, but he is often double-covered.

    He made five tackles towards the end of the game, but unsurprisingly he looked tired in his first appearance of the season.

    Cincinnati Bearcats next week

    It is likely UC’s last trip to Oxford as they look to return home with the Victory Bell at noon against Miami University. The RedHawks ended a 16-game losing streak in the series last year by winning 31-24 in overtime. Since then, at Miami’s behest, the 2025 game at Nippert has been canceled and the last scheduled game after that year is set for 2026 at the Cincinnati Bengals’ home, Paycor Stadium.

    Pitt also has a regional rivalry as they face another Big 12 team, West Virginia, in the “Backyard Brawl” at 3:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium.

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    Madoc Meredith
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