Turning Point Tuesday: The Fulcrum Plays in UC's 38-17 Victory Over Miami

MACON — WLWT News 5 anchor Mike Dardis once told me that a football game can be decided in three to four plays. These plays are turning points, changing the momentum and outcome of a game.

There were several turning points in the Bearcats victory over Miami on Saturday, plays that helped the Bearcats overcome two 10-point deficits in the first half.

8:24 2Q: Miami leads 17-14, facing 3rd & 6 on their 17-yard line

This play resulted in Bearcats junior linebacker DeShawn Pace breaking up a pass attempt to RedHawks running backer Jalen Walker, lowering a booming hit in the process.

We've spent the first quarter of the season talking about DeShawn's brother Ivan Pace Jr., and rightfully so. But DeShawn remains this defense's igniter. When a play needs to be made, he is there to make it. His shelling hit was the beginning of the end for Miami's offense, as the Bearcats' defense held them to just 111 yards over their final eight possessions. Ivan may seemingly make all the plays, but DeShawn strikes fear in offenses as well.

2:07 2Q: Tied Game at 17, Miami facing 2nd & 7 on the Bearcats 48-yard line

A big storyline this offseason was replacing Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant. One guy who showed confidence came in fifth-year senior Arquon Bush.

Late in the first half on Saturday, Bush was in a position to snag the Bearcats' first interception of the season. Aveon Smith overthrew a deep ball, but Bush played it beautifully and toe-tapped the sideline for the interception. The turnover didn't give the Bearcats great field position, but it still gave them a chance to take the lead.

0:13 2Q: Tied Game at 17, Cincinnati facing 1st & 10 on the Miami 13-yard line

In years past, the Bearcats have traditionally been a middle-of-the-field team on offense. They very seldom attacked the perimeter. But on Saturday, the Bearcats took the lead on a lob to the back corner of the end zone.

Cincinnati ran two such plays on their go-ahead scoring drive. After Tre Tucker could not complete a catch on his high-arcing pass, quarterback Ben Bryant came right back with a teardrop to wide receiver Nick Mardner in the far back corner to give Cincinnati a lead it would not relinquish.

Luke Fickell said this offense is different and that Bryant's strengths as a passer are showing. The Bearcats also have a deep wide receiver room. Saturday was the first time since 2016 that the Bearcats had two 100-yard receivers in the same game.

9:03 3Q: Cincinnati leads 24-17, facing 2nd & 25 at Miami 41-yard line

The Bearcats were facing 2nd & 25 because of an illegal block in the back by tight end Josh Whyle. That could have doomed the drive, but it did anything but that.

Bryant instead went to the air, down the middle of the field to wide receiver Tyler Scott for a back-breaking 41-yard touchdown. The score gave UC a 31-17 lead, a death knell for Miami.

Here's what stood out to me on this play: this Bearcats team may not have star players like last year, but this team does have a lot of depth. Scott is a part of that depth, and he leads the team with 15 receptions and 238 yards through the first three games.

The Bearcats' next game is against Indiana at 3:30 p.m. ET this Saturday on ESPN2. Streaming options for the matchup are available on fuboTV—start your free trial today.

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