The Three Stars of Cincinnati’s Win Over UConn

These first five weeks of the season have been nothing but perfect for the Cincinnati Bearcats. On Saturday, that run of perfection continued, as the Bearcats went north to East Hartford and ran over the UConn Huskies. If there was something to win, UC did it on Saturday. Total yards, points, time of possession, you name it, and the Bearcats were the team that had the upper hand.

Much like the win against Alabama A&M two weeks ago, this was a real team triumph, with a good chunk of the active roster getting a chance to play and make a difference. However, it was the next three players who made the biggest impact on UC’s latest statement victory.

Honorable Mention: Before we get to the three stars, I wanted to take the time to point out how good a game defensive end Kimoni Fitz had. The senior tallied a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss and helped the UC defense embarrass the UConn offense.

One Star - Josiah Deguara, TE

We are only five weeks into the season and Deguara is already the most productive tight end at UC since Travis Kelce in 2012, at least in terms of receiving yards. Deguara has transformed into the top target on the roster and put together the best performance of his career against UConn. He caught five passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. That score was on a 38-yard play for Deguara, who now holds team-highs in receptions (18), yards (247) and touchdown grabs (3).

Two Stars - Michael Warren, RB

The Bearcats rushed for 320 yards and five touchdowns, using six rushers to accomplish all that work. Warren was the first to get his chance and the star back dominated like only he can. Averaging 8.2 yards per carry, the sophomore continued his all-American Athletic Conference campaign by racking up 106 yards and two touchdowns. He already has a league-high 10 rushing scores this season and has reached the century mark in rushing yards three times.

Three Stars - Desmond Ridder, QB

Is it too late to get Ridder’s Heisman Trophy campaign going? While it would interfere with Warren’s, Ridder has really stepped up as the starting quarterback for a 5-0 team. The redshirt freshman was fantastic against UConn. He was efficient through the air and added some production on the ground. Completing 20-of-26 pass attempts for 270 yards and two scores and zero interceptions, Ridder never looked out of his element, even on the road. Add in 47 yards and a touchdown via the run and you’ve got all the makings of a three-star performance.