Top 5 Best Moments From The Cincinnati Bearcats 2014 Football Season

Nov 13, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats kicker Andrew Gantz (16) kicks a field goal during the second half against East Carolina Pirates at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bearcats won 54-46. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

1) Golden Toe Gantz

Andrew Gantz replaced the beleaguered Tony Miliano before the season began. Both were fighting for reps as field goal and extra point kicker in practice but the coaches put the responsibility on the redshirt freshman.

Despite measuring in at 5’9″, 158 lbs on a good day, Gantz was excellent in his first season as a Bearcat. He nailed 80% of his field goals, a sharp uptick from the 41.2% the previous year, and 96.3% of his extra points. But the most critical moment of his career came when Cincinnati’s AAC title hopes were backed against the wall against East Carolina.

After the Bearcats ran perhaps the most ridiculous play in modern football history, UC was down 46-45 to the Pirates with 1:02 to play. Gunner Kiel was able to move the Cincinnati offense past the 50-yard line but couldn’t go much further. With 19 seconds to play, the Bearcats put the game and their championship hopes on the right leg of Gantz, who delivered in the biggest of ways.