11:10p.m.--The UC Bearcats have won their tenth straight game to open the season. The onside kick by West Virginia was caught cleanly by Armon Binns. UC just ran out the clock and the teams are shaking hands in the middle of the field. UC wins 24-21.
11:06p.m--It isn't over yet. West Virginia just drove the field in a little over a minute. Jarrett Brown threw a touchdown pass to Bradley Starks with 0:39 left to play. UC leads 24-21. There's a timeout just before the onside kick.
11:00p.m--The UC drive died at the West Virginia 20. Jacob Rogers is into the game...this will be a 38 yard field goal attempt. It is GOOOOOOD! UC has a 24-14 lead with 2:08 to go in the game.
10:50p.m.--A scary drive by the Mountaineers just died. They were running the ball with success, just like Connecticut did last week. When they reached the UC 26, they punched it into the middle on third down and didn't get anything. Then a pass on fourth down fell incomplete. UC just got a lengthy run by Isaiah Pead. The Cats have the ball at the WVA 30 with 4:06 to go .
10:25p.m.--Three quarters are in the books in Cincinnati. UC drove for a touchdown after it received the second half kickoff and then the quarter ground to a screeching halt. West Virginia had a couple of first downs, but then a sack by Ricardo Mathews took them off schedule. They punted to the Cincinnati one yard line with 0:25 left in the third quarter. Collaros ran it out to the five on first down and time expired. We're starting the fourth quarter with UC leading 21-14.
10:03p.m.--For the second time tonight, Tony Pike has come off the bench to throw a touchdown pass. Zach Collaros directed a good drive that started at the UC 36 yard line. He hit Armon Binns for a key first down pass to the West Virginia 28, then a 22 yard pass to DJ Woods to the six. Pike entered the game and after two incompletions, he hit Woods on a short look-in pass for the touchdown. The drive covered 64 yards in ten plays. 11:07 to go in the third quarter, UC has the lead 21-14.
9:45p.m.--The UC band got off the field a few minutes ago and kicker Jacob Rogers quickly took their place. He badly missed a 34 yard field goal attempt in the first half, so he's out practicing kicks from 35-40 yards away. He hasn't missed one in practice. About five minutes until the start of the second half...14-14.
9:30 p.m.--We've reached halftime at Nippert Stadium..UC and West Virginia are tied at 14. Stat-wise, UC has outrushed the Mountaineers 137 to 112, but West Virginia has 116 passing yards to UC's 109. UC has given away the ball on a fumble, on one interception and has dropped a couple of passes. 14-all at the half.
9:20 p.m--Life has improved in the press box. Some guy next to me who hacked and sniffled through the whole first half just left. He's probably heading to the hospital. West Virginia has the ball near midfield with three minutes left in the half. I'll be back after I wash my hands.
9:14 p.m.--The UC Bearcats have just tied the game at 14 on a three yard run, or more accurately, a leap and a stretch by Isaiah Pead. It appeared the Cats had just wasted another good drive. Pead jumped over a pile of large bodies and reached out with the football. When the ball fell loose, it was ruled a fumble and West Virginia recovered. But the play was reviewed, and the replay showed that Pead had crossed the goal line with the football prior to the fumble. 5:26 in the second quarter..it's 14-14
9:02 p.m.--Ryan Clarke of West Virginia just ran 37 yards for a touchdown, giving the Mountaineers a 14-7 lead over UC. West Virginia was facing a third and two, and UC had everybody close to the line stop the run. But Clarke got a hole over left tackle and once he was past the line, nobody was going to touch him. 8:05 left in the second quarter, it's 14-7 West Virginia.
8:55 p.m--The UC Bearcats just squandered a chance to go ahead. They got a 52 yard run from Isaiah Pead and moved the ball to the West Virginia 23. They moved the ball inside the 20, but first Adrien Robinson dropped a pass in the endzone, and then Jacob Rogers was wide left on a 34 yard field goal attempt.
8:43 p.m.--We're done with one quarter at Nippert. UC and West Virginia are tied at seven. The Mountaineers will have the ball at their own 23, facing a second and eight when play continues in the second quarter.
8:35 p.m.--Nippert Stadium is packed tonight and so is this tiny press box. I managed to get a seat because some guy from the Parkersburg News didn't show up. We are squeezed together like sardines. I'm glad I didn't wear a sweater. It must be 85 degrees in here. And there's more coughin' and gaggin' and snifflin' in this place than an emergency ward. I might not be coming to work tomorrow.
8:30p.m.--West Virginia has tied up Cincinnati with about three minutes to go in the first quarter. West Virginia got the ball on a fumble by Adrien Robinson, the first fumble UC lost this season. West Virginia took over at the UC 49. A pass to Jock Sanders advanced the ball to the 12. Then quarterback Jarrett Brown dropped straight back to throw. He didn't see anyone open and then he wriggled his way ten yards, barely reaching the goal line. 3:19 to go in the first quarter, it's tied at 7.
8:14p.m.--The UC Bearcats have taken a quick lead over West Virginia. The Mountaineers were three and out on their first possession. UC took over and drove 73 yards in nine plays. Isaiah Pead ran the ball several times, the biggest gain was 18 yards. Zach Collaros connected with Ben Guidugli to the nine, and then Tony Pike entered the game. From the nine, Pike hit Armon Binns over the middle for a touchdown just under the goal posts. 9:56 to go in the first quarter, UC leads 7-0.
7:56 p.m.--We're about five minutes away from kickoff at Nippert Stadium, and the stands opposite the press box are saturated with red-shirted Cincinnati fans. There are quite a few West Virginia fans below on the press box side. A great atmosphere walking into the stadium tonight. A lot of people playing on the Sheakley Lawn and just a lot of spirit is evident. I think I parked at Christ Hospital. Parking near campus is always an adventure.
