Cincinnati Falls Short Again in Big 12 Battle, Baylor Prevails 32-29
In a highly anticipated match in the Big 12 conference, the University of Cincinnati fell short once again, resulting in a 32-29 defeat against Baylor. The game proved to be a sink-or-swim moment for Cincinnati, but they couldn’t overcome the challenges posed by their opponent. With this loss, Cincinnati finds themselves treading water and in a precarious position.
Going into the fourth quarter, Cincinnati trailed Baylor by a significant margin of 29-14. Despite their best efforts, the Bearcats were only able to outscore the Bears by a margin of 15-3 in the final quarter, falling just short of completing a remarkable comeback. Baylor, on the other hand, showed resilience and improved their record to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the Big 12.
Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen had an impressive performance, totaling 316 passing yards on a 25-for-42 completion rate. He connected with Ketron Jackson Jr. five times, resulting in a notable 130 receiving yards. Cincinnati had their own standout players as well. Corey Kiner rushed for an impressive 129 yards, while Myles Montgomery contributed with 108 yards and two touchdowns. Xzavier Henderson, who was unable to catch a pass in the previous game against Iowa State, redeemed himself with eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns in this match.
Unfortunately for Cincinnati, they encountered some early misfortune that cost them valuable points or turned into points for Baylor. In their opening drive, the Bearcats showed promise by advancing to the Baylor 20-yard line. However, a fumbled snap by quarterback Emory Jones dashed their hopes of scoring first and set the tone for the game.
Cincinnati managed to take a 7-3 lead in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Jones to Henderson. However, similar to the previous week’s game against Iowa State, Baylor quickly regained the lead. An excellent touchdown by Baylor quarterback Shapen, coupled with a fumbled kickoff return by Braden Smith, resulted in a 14-point swing in favor of Baylor. These unfortunate incidents allowed Baylor to maintain their advantage and extend their lead.
While Cincinnati fought back with a touchdown from Montgomery before halftime, they faced challenges capitalizing on opportunities. With 1:09 remaining in the first half, Cincinnati had a chance to take the lead but failed to advance and ended up having to punt, finishing the half trailing 20-14.
In a pivotal moment during the third quarter, Cincinnati had a chance to narrow the gap by advancing to the Baylor 15-yard line. However, instead of opting for a field goal, they chose to go for it on 4th-and-3. Baylor’s defense came up big and stopped Cincinnati, taking over on downs. The Bears capitalized on this momentum, holding Cincinnati scoreless in the third quarter and increasing their lead to 29-14.
Cincinnati showed resilience in the fourth quarter, with Montgomery scoring his second touchdown to bring the deficit to eight points. Isaiah Hankins’ fourth field goal made it 32-21 for Baylor, but Cincinnati mounted a comeback with Jones throwing a touchdown pass to Henderson and connecting with Evan Prater on a trick two-point conversion. With five minutes remaining in the game, the Bearcats trailed by just three points, 32-29.
Cincinnati had one final opportunity to secure a victory but fell short, as Baylor’s defense made critical stops to seal their victory. This loss marks Cincinnati’s fifth consecutive defeat, further intensifying the pressure on the team. With a current record of 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big 12, Cincinnati faces an uphill battle as they head to Oklahoma State for their next game.
Overall, it was a hard-fought battle between Cincinnati and Baylor, but ultimately, Baylor emerged victorious with a 32-29 win. Both teams showcased their talent and determination throughout the game. Cincinnati will need to regroup and find a way to reverse their fortunes as they navigate the challenges ahead.
