Fast recap: Cincinnati scores late touchdown to take shootout from Kansas

Cincinnati responded with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in 1:16 to escape with a 37-34 win after allowing a touchdown with 1:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. Kansas failed to mount a drive with 27 seconds left and fell to 3-2 on the season.

Both offenses shined throughout the game, with both sides tallying nearly 600 yards of offense. Jalon Daniels completed 19 passes for 445 yards as Emmanuel Henderson scored a pair of explosive play touchdowns. Brendan Sorsby countered with 29 completions for 388 yards and two touchdowns and led a game-winning drive. The Bearcats added 215 yards on the ground, with Tawee Walker scoring two touchdowns, including the deciding score.

Here’s how it happened:

First quarter: Cincinnati controls possession after allowing explosive touchdown

Kansas’ defense put itself in a good position to get off the field after stopping the run on first and second down. The Jayhawks brought pressure on third-and-long, and Austin Alexander broke up a pass to force a stop of their first defensive drive. Kansas nearly blocked the punt, but it rolled inside the 10 to back the offense up.

The negative field position didn’t hinder Kansas’ play-calling at all, taking a play-action shot on first down. The Cincinnati corner bit on the run and Emmanuel Henderson Jr. burnt him over the top, racing 93 yards to the house to give the Jayhawks’ a 7-0 lead on their first play from scrimmage.

Cincinnati’s aggressiveness paid off during a strong 13-play touchdown drive. The Bearcats’ went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 34, with Brendan Sorsby picking up the first down with his legs. Sorsby converted another fourth down near midfield, finding Cyrus Allen for a six-yard gain.

Kansas forced a third-and-long, but a poor tackling effort allowed Isaiah Johnson to pick up 33 yards on a catch and run. Tawee Walker found the end zone from two yards out to tie the game on a 5:32 drive.

The Bearcats’ offense got back on the field 1:22 later after their defense forced a three-and-out. Cincinnati rolled down the field, with Sorsby picking his spots over the middle of the field. Sorsby had a walk-in touchdown, but a pair of penalties backed up the Bearcats to second-and-22 at the end of the quarter. Cincinnati held possession for 13:27 of the first quarter.

Second quarter: Kansas settles for field goals as Cincinnati takes lead into halftime

Kansas limited Cincinnati to a field goal to open the second quarter. Sorsby missed Allen on third down, and Stephen Rusnak made a 29-yarder to give the Bearcats a 10-7 lead.

The Jayhawks had a pair of explosive plays to set up a scoring opportunity. First, Leshon Williams broke a 25-yard run, breaking a couple of tackles. Then Daniels threw a dime on a Cam Pickett corner route for a 27-yard gain. A roughing the passer penalty set up Kansas at the five, but the drive stalled there. Laith Marjan tied the game with a chip shot field goal.

Sorsby picked apart the Jayhawks’ defense as the Bearcats took the lead. Caleb Goodie got wide open for a 29-yard gain to set up Cincinnati in the red zone. Sorsby found Allen on an RPO for a 10-yard touchdown, giving Cincinnati a 17-10 lead.

Daniels sparked Kansas’ drive with his legs. He rushed for 17 and 15 yards on a pair of scrambles, avoiding pressure well. Daniels then found Bryson Canty for 31 yards to put the Jayhawks on the nine. The drive once again stalled, getting backed up after Daniels unsuccessfully pitched the option late, resulting in a loss of 12. Marjan hit another field goal, this one from 35 yards, to cut the score to 17-13 with 3:15 left in the first half.

Kansas got a big stop in the beginning part of the middle eight, stopping Sorsby on a third-down run. A 51-yard punt from Max Fletcher set up the Jayhawks at their 16 with 1:47 remaining.

Daniels completed a pass to Henderson for 25 yards to start the drive. However, Kansas quickly got to third down, where Daniels had Canty open for a 26-yard play. However, illegal touching negated the gain and forced the Jayhawks were forced to punt.

Finn Lappin’s line drive punt was returned for a touchdown, but a block in the back backed up the Bearcats near their end zone.

Despite being backed up with 47 seconds to work with, Cincinnati extended its lead heading into halftime. Evan Pryor broke off a 46-yard run to set up a 43-yard field goal to give the Bearcats a 20-13 lead at the half.

Third quarter: Offenses can’t stop scoring in back-and-forth game

Kansas scripted a creative drive coming out of the half, getting to the end zone in eight plays. After reaching midfield, Daniels hit Doug Emilien on a middle screen that picked up 14 yards. Cole Ballard was inserted for play while Daniels lined up out wide, and Ballard rushed for nine yards. Then, Kansas faked the jet motion and Boden Groen was open for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the game at 20-20.

Cincinnati had a quick strike of its own as Sorsby continued to find Cyrus Allen for big gains. The two connected for gains of 25 and 37 before Bangally Kamara was disqualified for targeting to put the Bearcats near the goal-line. Sorsby hit Allen again for a 14-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

The Jayhawks responded instantly. Henderson showed off his wheels again, catching a post near midfield and taking it all the way to the house for a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Sorsby was sacked for the first time all season to start Cincinnati’s drive. However, Kansas couldn’t get off the field, surrendering a third-and-long on a 20-yard pass. The Bearcats marched their way down the field, but had a touchdown negated by a penalty. The Jayhawks finally made a stop on third-and-goal to force Cincinnati to settle for a 24-yard field goal to make it a 30-27 game.

Fourth quarter: Cincinnati scores late touchdown to seal the game

Kansas converted on third and short at midfield to open the quarter as Daniels sneaked for the first down. The Jayhawks marched on and had another backup quarterback carry for a nice gain, as Isaiah Marshall ran for 20 yards to put Kansas at the nine-yard-line. After a false start negated a botched snap, Daniels fumbled on the one trying to run in the touchdown.

The Jayhawks got off the field after Sorsby missed Jeff Caldwell on third down. Fletcher’s punt got another Bearcats bounce, and a 53-yard boot pinned Kansas at its 15.

Groen got left wide-open again on two separate occasions for gains of 22 and 13 as Kansas started to march down the field. Daniels then scrambled for 12 yards to get to Cincinnati’s 31. Things got tight, and it took two quarterback sneaks to barely get the first down as the Jayhawks got near the red zone.

A holding backed things up, but Daniels hit Keaton Kubecka on a well-ran corner route for the first down. After a four-yard Leshon Williams run, Daniels hit Levi Wentz in the end zone to give Kansas a 34-30 lead with 1:45 to play.

As Cincinnati needed big plays to get down the field, Kansas’ pressure was able to affect the game. Sorsby kept the game alive, finding Noah Jennings for an 18-yard gain on fourth-and-10 at midfield. The Bearcats built momentum, picking up 21 to put them in business. Tawee Walker rushed for 17 yards to set up Cincinnati at the two-yard-line. Walker then got in from two yards to give Cincinnati a 37-34 lead with 0:29 to play.

Kansas couldn’t manage a first down and took the loss at home.