A pair of critical turnovers and several penalties cost the Cincinnati Bearcats during a recent 28-26 loss against the conference rival UCF Knights yesterday.
Despite coming up short again, Cincinnati continued to find success on the ground but it wasn’t enough to overcome multiple costly penalties and turnovers.
The Bearcats had an advantage in first downs, total yards and time of possession but a couple of crucial turnovers in the first half were too much to conquer.
With an opportunity to go ahead late in the first half, Cincinnati wide receiver Xzavier Henderson fumbled the ball just seconds after picking up a first down.
Despite compiling more first downs and total yards, #Cincinnati couldn’t overcome two critical turnovers.https://t.co/EClJtITh9x pic.twitter.com/Ou93voqSmj
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) November 5, 2023
Cincinnati Football: Critical turnovers cost the Bearcats in recent loss to rival UCF
Following an ejection of safety Bryon Threats in the first half, freshman defensive back Antwan Peek Jr stepped in and compiled a career-best six tackles.
On the final drive of the game, Bearcats quarterback Emory Jones found wide receiver Braden Smith for a pivotal first down en route to scoring a touchdown.
Scott Satterfield’s team has lost seven consecutive games and remains winless in conference play with less than a month remaining in the regular season.
The Bearcats had an opportunity to tie the game on a two-point attempt but Jones couldn’t convert and UCF was able to run out the remainder of the clock.
#Bearcats head coach Scott Satterfield discussed the lack of discipline during the postgame press conference.https://t.co/Uk6PbyAD03 pic.twitter.com/U1HWx7LevC
— Cincy on the Prowl (@CincyOnTheProwl) November 5, 2023
Cincinnati Football: Postgame recap from the Bearcats last-second loss against rival UCF
Cincinnati is set to return to action at former AAC foe Houston Cougars next weekend with an opportunity to finally put an end to the seven-game losing skid.
In a postgame press conference on Saturday night, Satterfield detailed the disappointing loss to UCF and the costly turnovers per Cincinnati Athletics.
"“I feel like a broken record coming in here. We’re out-gaining teams by over 100 yards, yet we’re on the short end of the stick, and it comes down to six or eight plays that are the difference in the game. We did some great things tonight and that gets overshadowed by some undisciplined plays. This is going to be a work in progress which we know and we’re going to work hard to see if we can fix that.”"