For the second straight week, the University of Cincinnati football team made several mistakes. But the difference the second time around for the Bearcats was their talent was simply overwhelming.
Cincinnati committed 10 penalties but also scored nine total touchdowns, including two from the defense, and coasted to a 63-10 victory over visiting Kennesaw State on Saturday at Nippert Stadium.
"It's a turn of the page and being able to move on," Bearcats coach Luke Fickell said. "But I think we answered some questions that maybe we had from last week about the maturity and how we can handle things. To me, more than anything, that's what I'm most proud of after this one. Our ability to be mature, to handle the preparation and all that we had to do, and to come out and play like we did."
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Here's what we learned from Saturday's win.
Cincinnati solved the triple-option riddle, again
Kennesaw State (0-2) runs the triple option like other familiar Bearcats opponents, Navy and Army. The Owls, who advanced to the second round of the 2021 FCS playoffs, entered Saturday's game having rushed for at least 150 yards in 73 straight games. Kennesaw averaged 278.6 yards rushing per game last season.
On Saturday, the Bearcats held the Owls to just 142 yards on the ground. Cincinnati junior defensive tackle Jowon Briggs was key to that stingy effort.
"For me, it was just an opportunity to come back and play it (triple option) again," he said. "When we played at Navy (last season), I think I could've played better. I didn't play up to my talent. Then also, my play was highly effective on the guys around me."
The Walnut Hills HIgh School product, who's been asked to play more inside this season as opposed to being a rotational piece on the edge a year ago, had eight tackles against Kennesaw State, including chipping in on a tackle for loss. But Briggs wasn't the only standout on Cincinnati's defensive front.
Ivan Pace Jr. has another big day
Briggs, graduate defensive lineman Jabari Taylor (five tackles), former Colerain High School standout Dontay Corleone (six tackles and a sack), sophomore defensive lineman Justin Wodtly (six tackles) and Ohio State transfer defensive end Noah Potter (four tackles) were just a few Bearcats either setting the edge or clogging up the middle.
"Those guys inside did a really good job," Fickell said. "Briggs and Jabari and Dontay and Justin Wodtly did a really good job to give Huber (graduate linebacker Wil Huber) and Pace (Miami University transfer linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.) and those guys an opportunity to fit and fill downhill."
Pace led the Bearcats in tackles for the second straight week. After compiling 12 total tackles (six solo), 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack last week at Arkansas, the former Colerain star racked up 11 more tackles (five solo), a tackle for loss and a forced fumble that led to Taylor's fumble recovery and subsequent 23-yard return for a touchdown.
"You could see the instincts – even in the triple-option game – from a kid like that," Fickell said of Pace. "He's going to continue to grow. He's a big part of what we're doing."
Ja'Von Hicks finally gets that elusive touchdown
Pace and Corleone weren't the only Colerain graduates leading Cincinnati's defensive attack on Saturday.
Fifth-year safety Ja'Von Hicks, another former Cardinals player, caught his eighth career interception in the third quarter. A touchdown return eluded Hicks on his previous seven picks, but he finally crossed the goal line on interception No. 8. Hicks said it happened on a familiar play.
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"Two years ago, I got in against Army," he said. "They gave me the same formation. It was three (receivers) to the flat. I missed it. So, this whole week of practice, Coach Hitsch (Cincinnati co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Colin Hitschler) was just preaching that I keep my eyes on my man. So when I got my opportunity, I took it. The quarterback threw it behind, and I just caught it and ran to the end zone."
With 31 career starts, Hicks will need to continue to set the standard in the defensive backfield if the Bearcats are going to have a successful season.
12 personnel is key for Cincinnati
Bearcats offensive coordinator Gino Guidugli opened the game in 12 personnel. That means the offensive formation included one running back and two tight ends.
The two tight ends featured in the set were senior team captain Josh Whyle and fifth-year graduate student Leonard Taylor, both players on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, presented annually to the top tight end in college football.
Senior quarterback Ben Bryant threw his first touchdown (a 17-yarder) to Whyle. Bryant threw his second score to Taylor on a 9-yard crossing route. Whyle and Taylor combined for five catches on six targets.
The two athletes are a matchup nightmare for most defenses, while also creating space for the outside wide receivers. They're also both effective blockers in the running game.
"I know for us defensively, it's difficult when people have those two tight ends that can do a lot of different things," Fickell said. "I'm sure it's similar to the people that we play. They're both guys that bring a lot of different value. It's not just catching the football, but blocking as well. ... I know that Ben loves the big targets."
Cincinnati didn't leave unscathed
The injury bug bit the Bearcats in a major way on Saturday. Graduate defensive end Malik Vann and freshman wide receiver Will Pauling both left the game with injuries and did not return.
Cincinnati starting running back and No. 1 punt returner Ryan Montgomery was already out after suffering an injury in Week 1. Starting center Jake Renfro is also out indefinitely with a knee injury.
"We'll have to figure that thing out," Fickell said. "You always have some of those things. I said that (to the players) after the game. As we continue to move on, I know it's only Week 2, but you have guys that have bumps and bruises, and what that means is other guys have got to step up. There are some guys in that locker room that may have played a little bit today. They don't know what their exact role is. But as we continue to press on this journey, they're going to have a much bigger role as we continue to move forward."