Isaiah mazing
As quick and unpredictable as lightning, Cincinnati football continued their quick strike offense beating down Miami(OH) 45-3.
The time it took to complete all of their touchdown drives was 10:50. With an average scoring drive of 1:08, UC actually lowered their sparkling average strike time.
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Two particular monster plays jumped off the page
Cincinnati scored 25 seconds into the game on a 48-yard pass from Zach Collaros to Armon Binns.
"It was good for our offense to really get some momentum going early," said Binns.
Late in the first quarter Isaiah Pead burst outside, and outran Miami's entire secondary en route to an 80-yard touchdown. It was the longest rush from scrimmage by a UC player since 1982 when Allen Harvin gobbled up 80 yards against the same Miami RedHawks.
"It could have been a bad angle, it could have been a foot race," said Pead. "I am not known for losing a lot of foot races."
Pead's speed turned the Hawks' faces red. More impressive is the fact that he collected the silly numbers in just a quarter and half of action.
He only needed nine carries to nibble at 200 rushing yards. With a two yard loss, he was knocked back to 197 late in the second quarter. He was removed with a pat on the back and encouraging words.
"Their rush defense was kind of suspect," said Pead. "I feel like their rush defense we could have attacked them a little bit and we did."
In the last two football games Pead has amassed 366 yards on the ground.
Cincinnati was so prolific early that the first drive that did not end in a touchdown occurred with 10:35 left in the second quarter.
The rebuttals conjured by the RedHawks were meek. They accomplished just 8 first half first downs and 3 points in the game. Drives by Miami were not frightening, nor prolonged.
The Bearcats got to play an expansive roster Saturday night. Deven Drane made his college debut on special teams. The freshman looks to increase his role going forward, in the absence of Dominique Battle. Freshman Munchie Legaux was able to get plenty of action at wide receiver after debuting against Oklahoma.
George Winn got nineteen carries, replacing Isaiah Pead late in the second quarter. Other infrequent providers saw frequent downs on Saturday. DT Monte Taylor, WR Jamar Howard, DB [db]Reuben Haley, and OL Austen Bujnoch played most of the fourth quarter in the rout.
A glaring bright spot for the glowing Bearcat team was Armon Binns. The senior wide receiver entered the season on the Biletnikoff Watch List. His first few games varied between average and subpar.
Binns did pick up two touchdowns against Indiana State, but exploded for a season-high 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.
"Armon played like we know he is capable of playing," said Coach Jones. "We have challenged him the last two weeks each and every day in practice. I thought he was aggressive. He went up like he does and attack the football."
Binns resurgence coincided with the efficient, decisive play of Collaros. Though he finished with a modest 216 yards passing, his 14-17 accuracy impressed.
Cincinnati is attempting to put back to back wins on the board for the first time this season next week at Louisville. The unpredictable, efficient offense has a chance build on it.
"Winning is very fragile," said Coach Jones. "I was really excited for them to get a win. You could see the excitement. This football team is extremely close. There were a few people that wanted to pull us apart. We haven't allowed that to happen. That is a tribute to our seniors."