CINCINNATI — One week after upsetting No. 8 Texas Tech, Cincinnati is on the receiving end of a lopsided first half against No. 6 Utah. The undefeated Utes have built a 42-6 lead late in the second quarter Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium, scoring four offensive touchdowns and returning two Bearcats turnovers for touchdowns in a classic belt-to-backside mismatch.
Utah scored on its first two possessions, with quarterback Devon Dampier connecting with Hunter Andrews for a four-yard touchdown before Wayshawn Parker added a 13-yard scoring run. Cincinnati answered the first touchdown with a field goal but could not stop the Utes' offense the rest of the way.
The Bearcats' problems grew early in the second quarter when running back Gi'Bran Payne lost a fumble that Utah's Raymond Evans recovered and returned for a touchdown. Cincinnati responded with a promising drive, including a 63-yard completion from JC French IV to Malachi Henry, but penalties and a sack contributed to a missed field-goal attempt.
Utah continued pulling away with a 30-yard touchdown run by Daniel Bray and a three-yard touchdown pass from Dampier to Bray. Parker also broke loose for a 64-yard run that helped set up Utah's fifth touchdown.
Cincinnati added another field goal with three minutes remaining, but its next possession ended when French threw an interception that Elijah Davis returned for a touchdown with 39 seconds left. The turnover gave Utah its second defensive score of the half and extended the lead to 42-6.
The Bearcats have moved the football at times but have failed to finish drives, while Utah's offense has completely dominated Cincinnati's defense. This one is ugly, folks.
