Sorsby Leads Cincinnati to Thrilling 19-13 Victory Over UCF with Last-Second Defensive Stop

The Cincinnati Bearcats came out on top in a tightly contested Big 12 showdown against UCF, winning 19-13 at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brendan Sorsby faced early adversity, throwing two interceptions in the first half, but managed to shake it off and rally his team to a gutsy victory.

The game's pivotal moment came in the final seconds, when UCF had one last chance to steal the win. Trailing by six points, the Knights advanced to the Bearcats’ 25-yard line, but Cincinnati’s defense stood tall. Linebacker Jared Bartlett delivered a game-ending sack on UCF quarterback Jacurri Brown, sealing the victory in dramatic fashion.

Sorsby, who finished with 241 passing yards and a touchdown, was unstoppable in the second half, completing his first 10 passes after the break. His 4-yard touchdown pass to Tony Johnson in the fourth quarter extended Cincinnati’s lead to 19-10, giving them a crucial buffer. Despite the shaky start, Sorsby’s resilience and leadership shined when it mattered most.

The Knights, who started true freshman quarterback E.J. Colson but relied heavily on Brown, battled throughout the game. Brown threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Kobe Hudson in the third quarter, tying the game at 10-10 and keeping UCF in the hunt. However, Cincinnati quickly regained the lead with a 51-yard field goal from Nathan Hawks, and their defense tightened up to stifle UCF’s comeback hopes.

The first half was a turnover-filled affair, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm. Cincinnati took a 10-3 lead into halftime, capitalizing on UCF mistakes, including two fumbles by Knights’ running back Johnny Richardson. The Bearcats’ defense was relentless, with linebacker Jake Golday forcing one of the fumbles and playing a key role in keeping UCF’s offense at bay.

In the fourth quarter, Cincinnati’s special teams also made a significant impact. Senior Mason Fletcher’s 45-yard punt pinned UCF at their own 1-yard line, putting the Knights in a precarious position. The Bearcats’ defense quickly forced a three-and-out, and Sorsby capitalized on the short field to orchestrate a 52-yard drive that ended with his game-sealing touchdown pass.

With the win, the Bearcats improve to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big 12, while UCF falls to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Cincinnati returns home to Historic Nippert Stadium for a homecoming matchup against Arizona State, looking to build on the momentum of this hard-fought victory.