Final Huddle: Iowa State Hands Cincinnati Fourth Straight Loss 30-10

Cincinnati is still searching for a Big 12 win.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Oct 14, 2023 3:16 PM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — UC football is having some déjà vu with the 2017 season as Iowa State dropped them 30-10 on homecoming to hand the Bearcats a fourth-straight loss for the first time since 2017.

A lack of discipline and big play issues on both sides of the ball crushed any hope of a first Big 12 win. Cincinnati's lone touchdown of 20 yards to Chamon Metayer (four catches, 43 yards, one touchdown) was the team's longest play of the day. It was a second straight rough offensive day at Nippert Stadium.

Emory Jones (14-of-26, 96 yards passing, one touchdown, 15 carries, 72 yards) couldn't find any consistency downfield and had to rely on a steady, but non-explosive QB run game for any offense. Iowa State countered with a nice day from redshirt freshman Rocco Becht, who didn't have to work many long drives.

Downfield Passing Disappears

Cincinnati stayed balanced on Saturday, but the passing game didn't hold up against the rain and one of the best ball-hawking defenses in the country.

Iowa State entered the game ranked third nationally with 10 interceptions and got Jones early on a great read from T.J. Tampa. Overall, Jones couldn't find any rhythm down the field and it's hard to say this isn't who he is at this point midway through a sixth college season.

The Bearcats went just 6-of-15 on throws of five-plus yards.

Jones missed Dee Wiggins on a wide-open deep post to start the game and it didn't get much better from there. Now Jones wasn't the only reason for lacking pass game execution. Few players created consistent separation against this veteran secondary, but Jones hasn't been enough of a difference-maker this season that you have to be leading an offense.

Brady Lichtenberg (1-of-3, three yards) checked into the game for the final few minutes, but he didn't flash anything to think this offense should roll his way.

Rushing wise the balance didn't mean much for the running backs. UC was missing Ryan Montgomery and Ethan Wright as Corey Kiner and Myles Montgomery combined for less than three yards per carry.

Meanwhile, Becht picked on Jordan Young all day against Jayden Higgins, as the defense gave up another five explosive pass plays. It's easy to see why they are the 132nd-ranked team by PFF coverage grade.

Key Penalties, Field Position Crush

Cincinnati didn't execute well enough to avoid some key penalties crushing them along with a continuation of poor special teams. The Bearcats entered the game with the 18th-worst PFF special teams grade nationally on Saturday and it showed.

ISU started far too many drives in great field position, whether a result of a bad kick, bad coverage, or both. Jaylin Noel wowed as a returner more than a receiver, with two kick returns for 110 yards. He gashed Cincinnati in both halves, as the red-zone defense did a decent job of making the score look more respectable than it could've.

Two avoidable TDs in that area came on bad penalties: An Eric Phillips roughing the passer call to wipe out a field goal try and a Jordan Young fourth-down offsides. The red zone defense was decent in this game, but Cincinnati doesn't have enough margin for error to put its defense in that many precarious spots.

Metayer Flashes

Metayer was Cincinnati's best player on Saturday and he even had a tough drop on a screen pass. Cincinnati worked its lone touchdown to the playmaker over the middle.

He's now scored three touchdowns in the last two games as he continues to get more snaps in a tight end room that desperately needs him to take full control. Payten Singletary had another rough day blocking, marked by an unnecessary block in the back during the first half.

Cincinnati licks its wounds and prepares for a 2-4 Baylor team that will likely be an underdog entering Nippert Stadium.

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