LAWRENCE, Kan. - Cincinnati Bearcats running back Tawee Walker‘s late touchdown secured a 37-34 road victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday. The win improves cincinnati’s record to 3-1 on the season.
The game began with Walker scoring a touchdown at the 6:10 mark in the first quarter to tie the game 7-7. Cincinnati extended its lead in the second quarter with a 29-yard field goal by Stephen Rusnak, followed by a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brady Sorsby to receiver Cyrus Allen. Kansas responded with field goals of 27 and 35 yards from Laith Marjan. Rusnak added another field goal, a 43-yarder as time expired in the second quarter, set up by a 46-yard run from Evan Pryor, giving Cincinnati a 20-13 halftime lead.
Kansas tied the game 20-20 early in the third quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jason Daniels to Boden Groen. Sorsby and Allen connected again for a 14-yard touchdown, putting Cincinnati ahead 27-20. Kansas quickly answered with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Henderson, tying the game at 27-27. A 24-yard field goal by Rusnak, following a 33-yard reception by tight end Gavin Grover and a negated touchdown run by Walker due to a holding penalty, gave Cincinnati a 30-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Kansas took a 34-30 lead with 1:45 remaining after Daniels completed a six-yard pass to Levi wentz. Cincinnati responded with a drive that included a 38-yard completion to Johnson (later ruled out of bounds) and culminated in Walker’s game-winning touchdown.
Safety Antwan Peek Jr. forced a crucial fumble on Daniels and recovered it earlier in the fourth quarter, thwarting a Kansas drive.
Cincinnati returns to Nippert Stadium to host Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 4.
