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Photo by Susan Hatfield: ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power
Cincinnati Bearcats 24
UCLA Bruins 14
The Cincinnati Bearcats kicked off their 2019 football campaign with a bang as they were able to use their defensive prowess to their advantage and keep the visiting UCLA Bruins at bay. The PAC-12 team could have used some of their many storied players from the past, namely Troy Aikman, to change any result against the much more physical Bearcats, sporting their intimidating all black uniforms. Coach Luke Fickell has outdone the more celebrated UCLA coach Chip Kelly for a second straight year, first doing so at the Rose Bowl stadium last August. And this year’s game had Cincinnati stealing the ball early, scoring, and never trailing as they rolled to the 24-14 victory at their packed Nippert Stadium.ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power has been eyeing this team for over two years and see it evolving into the kind if team that can cause headaches for anyone. With their type of Defense, which flies around with an attitude, and their Run-Pass-Option Offensive scheme, they can hang around with any team out there. The defense held UCLA to just 62 yards rushing and just 262 yards total for the game. The offense is steered by the perceptive Desmond Ridder a shifty 215 pound runner and thrower who reads the upfront moves of a solid group of offensive lineman. Incidentally, Ridder lost his voice sometime in the first half. (So, that wasn’t him singing “Hotel California” as the teams trotted off the field.) But, the heart and soul of the Cincinnati offense is their turbulent running back, Michael Warren II, the perfect combination of brute, angry power with the speed of a cyclone.
The Bruins won’t be looking to schedule the Bearcats anytime in the near future. They caught the red eye back to L.A…… Cincinnati starts packing for a trip to Columbus for their next event vs Ohio State.