Instant takeaways from UC Bearcats loss vs. Navy in Liberty Bowl

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MEMPHIS, TN – For a second straight year, the Cincinnati Bearcats have ended a football campaign with five consecutive losses. Playing in their first bowl in over three years, the Bearcats fell short in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl against Navy 35-13 on Jan. 2.

In a constant downpour, Navy proved to be better in the water and the air. Though both teams had consecutive three-and-outs to start the game, Navy built a 14-7 halftime lead it added to with a 75-yard drive to start the second half. Quarterback Blake Horvath hit Eli Heidenrich for a 13-yard score and UC would be swimming uphill the rest of the evening.

Navy outgained UC 349 yards to 239, out-passing them 108-97 as well as outrushing them 239-142. Tickets distributed at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium were announced at 21,908.

“I’m disappointed tonight that we did not get it done against a really good Navy team,” head coach Scott Satterfield said. “We came up short, and I’m obviously disappointed in that and how we finished.

“I’m proud of the guys that were here in the last four weeks on campus that stuck it out with us right here at the end to go compete in this bowl game. From Gavin Gerhardt to Ben Blevins, Jack Dingle, Brady Lichtenberg, some of these guys have been in this program for a long time, and have such pride about our program, in our school, and every single day, show up and work their butts off.”

Navy’s Horvath leaves with win, trophy

Navy quarterback Blake Horvath was 9-for-15 for 108 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a score. Alex Tecza led all rushers with 80 yards and a touchdown. Horvath was named the game MVP.

Both UC quarterbacks played and were involved in scores. Brady Lichtenberg started and was 10-for-15 for 78 yards and a touchdown, but had a costly interception. Samaj Jones was 2-for-5 for 19 yards but ran for 57 yards and his first college rushing touchdown.

Navy linebacker Coleman Cauley was the outstanding defensive player. Running back/returner Manny Covey was named the outstanding UC offensive player and defensive back Antwan Peek Jr. outstanding defensive player. Covey and Peek were presented with individual trophies in the post-game press conference.

“We didn’t stay as disciplined as we needed to with our eyes,” Peek Jr. said. “I was really proud of our young guys going in there with the confidence that they had and energy that they had.”

Covey ran for 78 yards and had five catches for 28 yards.

“I’m glad to show my skill-set,” Covey said. “I ain’t going nowhere, I’m staying here. I’m ready to go back to work.”

UC ends up 7-6 after starting the season 7-1. In 2024, they started 5-2 and finished 5-7.

The Navy Midshipmen finish the season 11-2 after December wins against archrival Army and the Bearcats. Win or lose, Scott Satterfield’s contract called for a $75,000 bonus for making a bowl game.

Cincinnati Bearcats in market for defensive coordinator

Cincinnati sources confirmed the departure of Tyson Veidt after the game, with Veidt heading to Penn State to join Matt Campbell’s staff. The two previously worked together at Iowa State.

Again, UC plays bowl depleted

As is the case when teams don’t make the College Football Playoff, UC played without numerous players who elected to either not play, enter the transfer portal or prepare for the NFL Draft.

Among those were All-Big 12 selections Dontay Corleone, Jake Golday and sought-after quarterback Brendan Sorsby. They were also minus top running backs Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor who departed along with several defensive backs.

As was the case in 2022 in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl, it wasn’t the team that got out to a 7-1 start. Instead, they had to limp to the finish with what players were left.

“You’d love to have all the guys that we had throughout the whole season,” Satterfield said. “I’m so proud of the ones that were here. This day and age in college football, the way the calendar sets up, we have to change when the portal is and all of these things that are happening with the calendar in college football. Bowls are special. What’s happened here has thrown it off kilter. To come in and finish off with a bowl game is special and you’d like to have your whole team.”

Takeaways from Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Navy Midshipmen in AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback rotation

Lichtenberg started the game, but Jones came in for the second series. Jones eventually led UC on its first scoring drive, taking them 75 yards in 17 plays in the second quarter. The drive culminated in his first career college rushing touchdown.

Jones would have the running score and Lichtenberg added a passing touchdown, but it was clearly a game where they missed Brendan Sorsby, who departed the team in December for greener pastures. The last pick-six, when linebacker Cauley grabbed a tipped Lichtenberg pass for a score, just put an exclamation point on the night.

Who ran ball for Cincinnati Bearcats?

In the first half, it was mainly Jones with 49 yards. Running backs Manny Covey and Zion Johnson combined for 41 carries on 12 carries.

Conditions and situations changed in the second half and Covey got more carries, finishing with 78 yards in addition to a team-high five catches for 28 yards. Jones finished with a career-high 57 yards. Freshman Zion Johnson had 23 yards on eight carries.

Missing starters Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor clearly hurt as much as anything.

Slow day through air for UC, but Cyrus Allen gets record

When UC scored to tie the game in the second quarter, they had completed just one pass, a Jones screen for 18 yards. At the break, he was just 2-for-4 for 19 yards and Lichtenberg had come in for the last drive, going 2-for-4 for six yards. Cyrus Allen was the only receiver to catch a pass as three went to Manny Covey.

Late in the game, no tight ends had been targeted, including Joe Royer, and only Noah Jennings of the receiving corps had caught a pass.

With his fourth-quarter touchdown, UC’s Allen tied a school record for touchdown receptions in a season. It was his 13th, tying Marcus “Bones” Barnett who set the mark in 2007.

“There’s no one more deserving of that than Cyrus,” Lichtenberg said. “No one practices harder than Cyrus. He’s going to be in the NFL playing. He’s going to get drafted. He could have opted out and he didn’t. He came to practice every day during bowl prep with the same intensity.”

In their final college games, tight end Patrick Gurd had more targets (3) than NFL prospect Joe Royer, who played but couldn’t get the ball.

Both teams had turnovers

UC and Navy both fumbled twice in the pouring rain. UC also saw Marquavious Saboor disqualified on a targeting call that led to a Midshipmen score. In a game against a ranked team, all mistakes are magnified. UC was penalized nine times for 76 yards compared to Navy’s two accepted penalties. A curious call came late in the first half, which resulted in UC not taking a timeout then being penalized on the second-half kickoff.

When Navy scored on that drive, the proverbial tide turned. Satterfield said afterward that the referees led him to believe the late penalty was on Navy. When he got inside, he was informed it was UC’s penalty and 15 yards were marked off on the kickoff.

No rest for Cincinnati Bearcats staff

Scott Satterfield said UC would be flying home and then hosting 10 to12 transfer portal recruits on campus Jan. 3. Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball will be squaring off with No. 8 Houston.

“As we turn the page to the transfer portal, we’re looking for guys like these guys right here, guys with character,” Satterfield said. “They’re going to show up, love football, love to compete. There’s one portal period, and we’re going to get to work when we get back in town.”

No Brendan Sorsby for UC, he was traveling

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sorsby was the top-rated quarterback in the portal Friday morning and had plans to fly to Texas Tech, then LSU. Early indicators had Sorsby pointed toward Texas Tech as his girlfriend, a former UC volleyball player, transferred to the Red Raiders shortly after Sorsby announced he was entering the portal in mid-December. Sorsby is also from Texas and Red Raiders departing quarterback Behren Morton had replied to his Instagram announcement, as did Texas Tech general manager James Blanchard.

Next game?

Schedules aren’t official, but Boston College and Western Carolina are slated to visit Nippert Stadium next season in addition to a Miami RedHawks game at Paycor Stadium. Big 12 home dates will be against Utah, Colorado, Texas Tech and Kansas State with road games set for Arizona State, BYU, Houston, Iowa State and West Virginia.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What we learned from UC Bearcats loss vs. Navy in Liberty Bowl

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