Cincinnati Bearcats Outpaced by Iowa State Cyclones in Week 12 Showdown
The Cincinnati Bearcats faced a challenging game against the Iowa State Cyclones, concluding with a 17-34 loss. This result moves the Bearcats to a 5-5 record, while the Cyclones advance to an impressive 8-2. Despite a hard-fought battle, the Bearcats couldn't overcome the Cyclones' momentum in front of a crowd of 52,881 at Jack Trice Stadium.
Game Highlights
The game kicked off with both teams scoring seven points each in the first quarter, setting an early tone for competition. However, as the match progressed into the second quarter, both teams could only manage to add three more points each to their tally. The real turning point came in the third quarter when Iowa State outscored Cincinnati by ten points, creating a gap that would prove insurmountable for the Bearcats.
Cincinnati's offense struggled to find its rhythm throughout the game. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby managed only 66 passing yards with a completion rate of 56 percent and no touchdowns. On the ground, however, Corey Kiner showed some promise by rushing for 120 yards on eighteen attempts but failed to find his way into the end zone.
Defensive Efforts and Special Teams
On defense and special teams, there were glimpses of resilience from Cincinnati. Jared Bartlett recorded one sack and contributed significantly with tackles for loss alongside Jiquan Sanks who forced one fumble which was recovered by Josh Minkins - showcasing their defensive capabilities despite being under constant pressure from Iowa State's offense.
Mason Fletcher had six punting attempts totaling 224 yards but couldn't manage any inside-the-20 placements which might have added pressure on Iowa State's return game. Nathan Hawks successfully converted his lone field goal attempt from 29 yards out and made both extra-point attempts following Cincinnati’s two rushing touchdowns - one by quarterback Brendan Sorsby himself on an impressive run that marked his personal best performance on ground this season.
Despite these efforts and managing two rushing touchdowns plus maintaining possession time slightly over half of playtime (28:12), penalties proved costly for Cincinnati as they accumulated thirteen penalties costing them ninety-seven yards throughout this crucial matchup.
Looking ahead, The Cincinnati Bearcats will face off against Kansas State Wildcats at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan on November 23rd at 1:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch all action live as both teams vie for victory late into this season.