Miami (Ohio) Redhawks vs Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score on Sep 24, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 24, 2016

Redshirt freshman Ross Trail led two fourth-quarter drives and host Cincinnati defeated Miami (Ohio) 27-20 on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

Trail was filling in for Hayden Moore, who was out with an injured ankle. The end result was the Bearcats' 11th straight Victory Bell win over Miami in the fifth -most played rivalry in the FBS.

Cincinnati (3-1) bounced back from a 40-16 loss last week to No 6 Houston. But it was far from easy against the RedHawks, who were on the cusp of breaking an 11-game skid against the Bearcats.

The RedHawks (0-4) were physical and dictated the play for most of the day. Leading 20-17 and driving, Miami quarterback Billy Bahl committed a costly turnover early in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati's Marquise Copeland sacked Bahl, who fumbled with Marc Wilson recovering the loose ball. Five plays later, Cincinnati's Josh Pasley tied the game at 20-20 with a 23-yard field goal.

Miami went three plays and out and punted, giving the Bearcats an opening with which they took advantage.

Trail led the Bearcats on a 12-play, 64-yard drive for a 27-20 lead. Tion Green capped the drive with a hard 2-yard run to put Cincinnati up for good.

Green and Mike Boone combined for 157 yards on the ground and each ran for a touchdown. Trail also rushed for a score.

Trail, who was making his first start in his college career, completed 25 of 38 passes for 276 yards. He did not throw a touchdown but did toss two interceptions.

For the third straight year, Miami put a scare into the Bearcats. Bahl completed 12 of 23 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, but his costly fumble at the Miami 49-yard line doomed the RedHawks.

The Bearcats drew first blood when Pasley connected on a 28-yard field goal with 4:54 left in the first.

The RedHawks took little time to answer. Maurice Thomas set up Miami after taking the kickoff back 94 yards.

Bahl hit James Gardner two plays later for an 8-yard score. With the extra point the RedHawks had the lead until Trail capped an 11-play, 90-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdown run.

Miami's Nick Dowd tied the game up with a 26-yard field goal on Miami's next series.

Cincinnati next plays South Florida, a 55-35 loser to Florida State on Saturday. The RedHawks next play Ohio University, a 37-21 winner over Gardner-Webb.