Alex Frank | Sports Director
The Cincinnati Bearcats started fast and never let up in a dominating 56-6 win over the East Carolina Pirates.
The win is the Bearcats 10th of the season, marking the seventh 10-win season in Bearcats football history.
The 15 seniors on the team also enjoyed the blowout win on Senior Day.
It was redshirt-freshman quarterback Desmond Ridder, though, who lit up the Pirates defense in the first half going 20-29 for a career-high 335 yards and four touchdowns.
By the end of the first quarter, Ridder already had 206 yards and three touchdowns in sparking the Bearcats to a 21-0 lead.
Two of Ridder’s four touchdowns went to senior wide receiver Khalil Lewis, who had a career day in his final home game with nine catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshmen running backs Charles McClelland and Tavion Thomas filled in for an injured Michael Warren II (So.) and rushed for a combined 210 yards and two touchdowns.
Cincinnati’s defense shut down the explosive ECU offense and forced five turnovers, scoring 28 points off them.
The Pirates only mustered 303 total yards, a week after unloading for 657 against UConn in a 55-21 victory.
Cincinnati has finished the 2018 regular-season 10-2 (6-2, AAC) and will now wait to see where they will be headed for a bowl game, which will be announced next Sunday Dec. 2 at noon on ESPN.
First quarter
CIN_ Jackson 10 pass from Ridder (Smith kick), 10:46
CIN_ Deguara 30 pass from Ridder (Smith kick), 1:21
CIN_ Lewis 57 pass from Ridder (Smith kick), 0:33
Second Quarter
CIN_ McClelland 55 run (Smith kick), 13:06
CIN_ Thomas 2 run (Smith kick), 9:12
ECU_ Vines 71 pass from Ahlers (Young kick failed), 8:13
CIN_ Lewis 28 pass from Ridder (Smith kick), 3:53
Third Quarter
CIN_ Lewis 7 pass from Moore (Smith, kick), 7:05
Fourth Quarter
CIN_ Bush 36 INT (Smith, kick), 13:32