Tulane Football Falls at Cincinnati, 37-21

Saturday, October 6

Cincinnati, Ohio

11:00 AM

Tulane University

2-4 , 1-1

Cincinnati

6-0 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tulane

Cincinnati

Photo by: Parker Waters

Oct 6, 2018 | Football

Box Score Tulane-Cincinnati Box Score Photo Gallery TULANE VS. CINCINNATI - POSTGAME NOTES

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati football team remained undefeated with a 37-21 victory over Tulane at Nippert Stadium on Saturday.

Tulane (2-4, 1-1 American Athletic Conference) scored two first-half touchdowns but couldn't capitalize on three Cincinnati turnovers in the second half. Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0) pulled away when it scored a touchdown on the next play after a blocked punt early in the third quarter, expanding its 10-point halftime lead to 16.

The Green Wave had two forced fumbles that came shortly after the touchdown that gave the Bearcats that 30-14 lead, but the offense was unable to move the ball on Cincinnati, who entered the game with the nation's No. 2 scoring defense. A fourth-quarter Will Harper interception after Patrick Johnson tipped the ball into the air also resulted in no points.

Darius Bradwell and Darnell Mooney had Tulane's two first-half touchdowns, with Mooney's coming on a 17-yard catch and Bradwell's on a 19-yard run. Terren Encalade scored in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter on a 14-yard catch from Justin McMillan to provide the final Tulane tally.

Bradwell was Tulane's leader on offense, picking up 88 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Mooney hauled in four catches for 65 yards, surpassing 500 total receiving yards on the season. McMillan played the majority of snaps at quarterback, finishing the day 11 of 26 for 130 yards and two scores.

On the defensive side, Johnson had a stellar game as he forced one fumble, recovered another, tipped a ball that became an interception and recorded six tackles and a sack. Zachery Harris had a season-best 13 tackles – one shy of his career high – while another Bearcats fumble was recovered by long snapper Geron Eatherly. Roderic Teamer Jr., and Larry Bryant forced a fumble each. Harper's interception was the first of his career.

Amare Jones had the most productive day of his young career, leading Tulane with 166 all-purpose yards including 145 on kickoff returns. Jones had returns of 69, 51 and 25 yards, and the longest two set up the Green Wave's second and third touchdown drives.

After Cincinnati took an early lead on a field goal, the Green Wave answered back with a touchdown. McMillan came in as quarterback and connected with Mooney on two long plays on the drive including a 33-yard pass on third down to the Bearcats' 21-yard line to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, McMillan found Mooney in the right corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown, putting Tulane ahead 7-3 in the final minutes of the first.

Cincinnati retook the lead early in the second quarter when Michael Warren ran 81 yards for a touchdown and a 10-7 Bearcats edge, and a Kahlil Lewis 25-yard touchdown catch made it 17-7 Bearcats with four minutes left in the quarter.

There was still time for two more touchdowns in the half, as Bradwell ran it in from 19 yards after Amare Jones returning the kickoff 64 yards into Bearcats territory. That cut Cincinnati's lead to 17-14.

But with 2:51 remaining on the clock, Cincinnati had plenty of time left to re-extend their lead. With under a minute left, quarterback Desmond Ridder scrambled up the middle and had nothing but green grass in front of him for a 28-yard touchdown, putting Cincinnati ahead 24-14 at the break.

The Bearcats had the first two touchdowns of the second half and held the Green Wave offense to 105 total yards in the final 30 minutes.

Receiver Brian Newman had his first career catch on the final play of the game, picking up 10 yards.

The Green Wave are off next week but will return to action on October 20 against SMU. Kickoff time will be announced Monday.