College Sports

Ridder throws 4 TDs, Cincinnati whips Marshall 52-14

Posted September 28, 2019 7:00 am

By JOHN RABY

Marshall defenders swarm tackle Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Desmond Ridder threw a season-high four touchdown passes and Cincinnati rolled to a 52-14 victory over Marshall on Saturday.

The Bearcats (3-1) were dominant throughout their final nonconference tuneup before the start of American Athletic Conference play.

Marshall (2-2) was limited to 256 yards of offense, with half of that coming in the fourth quarter.

Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said it was "probably the complete game we've been looking for. We've been in a little bit of a rut. We were 2-1, but it just didn't feel the same, the energy. And then after tonight you walk in that locker room, there's a different energy."

Ridder had TD tosses of 13 yards to Rashad Medaris and 17 yards to Alec Pierce in the first quarter, and 13 yards to tight end Josiah Deguara in the second quarter.

Just before halftime, Ridder fumbled when he was hit by Marshall linebacker Tavante Beckett while attempting a pass. Deguara picked up the loose ball at the Marshall 2 and ran it in for a 28-0 halftime lead.

Ridder, a sophomore, added a 4-yard TD pass to tight end Bruno Labelle in the third quarter. Ridder completed 18 of 22 passes for 221 yards before being replaced by freshman Ben Bryant midway through the third.

Cincinnati led 45-0 entering the fourth quarter.

"We didn't execute and we didn't make enough plays," said Marshall sophomore quarterback Isaiah Green. "This football team doesn't give up. We've got to move on."

THE TAKEAWAY

Cincinnati: Ridder, whose four TD tosses matched his total from the previous three games, looked at ease in the pocket and it helped that his receivers often were wide open. It marked the first game this season that Ridder did not throw an interception. He also rushed nine times for 48 yards. Pierce had season highs of six catches for 108 yards.

Marshall: The Thundering Herd had averaged 32 points over its first three games but didn't put up much of a fight Saturday. Green missed several of his targets and Marshall struggled to run the ball until after the outcome was already decided. Green finished 11 of 29 for 131 yards.

AVOIDING A SHUTOUT

Backup running back Sheldon Evans' 13-yard TD run and Willie Johnson's 40-yard run on a reverse, both in the fourth quarter, enabled Marshall to avoid its first shutout loss at home since 1984 and its first overall shutout loss since 2000.

BRYANT'S FIRST

Bryant's first career completion was a 56-yard pass to Tre Tucker to the Marshall 1 late in the third quarter. Tavion Thomas scored on a 1-yard run on the next play.

TOUGH IN HUNTINGTON

Cincinnati and Marshall are about 150 miles apart. The Bearcats won in blowout fashion for the second straight time in Huntington. In 2008, Cincinnati won the last meeting at Marshall 33-10.

UP NEXT

Cincinnati: Hosts No. 22 UCF in its league opener next Friday.

Marshall: Travels to Middle Tennessee in its Conference USA opener next Saturday.

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Cincinnati wide receiver Thomas Geddis (4) makes a catch against Marshall defender Kereon Merrell (5) an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

Marshall's Willie Johnson (1) attempts to get past Cincinnati's Jaquan Sheppard (39) on a kickoff return an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

Marshall running back Brenden Knox (20) is brought down on a carry by Cincinnati defenders an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

Marshall wide receiver Willie Johnson, left, makes a catch against Cincinnati's Taj Ward an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) speeds up field on a keeper as the Bearcats take on Marshall an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Huntington, W.Va. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press

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