EditorsNote: fixes spelling of Trevis in seventh graf
Gerrid Doaks accounted for all three of Cincinnati's touchdowns, including a 27-yard run late in the fourth quarter, to lead the 21st-ranked Bearcats to a 24-13 win over visiting Tulsa on Saturday in American Athletic Conference action.
Doaks' last touchdown, with 3:37 left in the game to put the Bearcats (6-1, 3-0 AAC) up by 11, came a play after safety Darrick Forrest intercepted Tulsa's Zach Smith and returned the ball 16 yards to the Tulsa 27.
Doaks was inserted after starting running back Michael Warren suffered an undisclosed injury, finishing with 91 yards on 17 carries with two rushing touchdowns. He also caught a 28-yard touchdown pass thrown by Desmond Ridder, who went 12 of 22 for 172 yards.
Smith, a transfer from Baylor, completed 21 of 43 attempts for 243 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns for Tulsa (2-5, 0-3).
Tulsa stayed close in the first half, trailing 10-7 at halftime, despite losing two fumbles and Smith throwing an interception.
The Bearcats extended the lead to 17-7 with 8:33 left in the third quarter, capping a 65-yard drive in which Ridder was part of six of the eight plays. He rushed twice for 26 yards and completed 3 of 4 passes for 35 yards, including the 28-yard scoring play to Doaks.
On Cincinnati's next possession, Tulsa's Shemarr Robinson recovered a Ridder fumble at the Cincinnati 8, forced on a sack by Trevis Gipson. Jacob Rainey made a 24-yard field goal with 3:29 left in the third to cut the lead to 17-10.
Another field goal by Rainey, a 21-yarder with 12:12 left in regulation, cut the lead to 17-13, capping Tulsa's 88-yard, 12-play drive.
The Bearcats could not convert on their ensuing possession that spanned 81 yards on 14 plays. On fourth-and-3 at the Tulsa 12, Doaks ran only 2 yards, and Cincinnati turned the ball over on downs.
Two plays later, Forrest intercepted Smith's pass that led to Doaks' game-securing touchdown run. The Bearcats won their 10th straight game at home.
--Field Level Media
