OXFORD, Ohio (AP) — With their starting quarterback knocked out, a redshirt freshman's four turnovers in the fourth quarter put Cincinnati's streak of rivalry wins at risk. But Hayden Moore was perfect when he had to be at the end.
Moore lost two fumbles and threw two interceptions — one of them into the end zone — that gave Miami (Ohio) a chance to pull one out. Moore regained his composure and led the Bearcats to a 37-33 victory on Saturday, their 10th in a row over their regional rival.
"Hayden did a good job at the end," running back Tion Green said. "He didn't get rattled."
With Miami (1-2) ahead 33-30 and 4:14 to go, the Bearcats got the ball back at their 34-yard line. Moore, from Clay, Ala., hit all three of his passes for 50 yards in the winning drive. He sneaked in from the 1-yard line with 1:13 to go.
"It's all in Hayden's hands on that last drive," coach Tommy Tuberville said.
SEE Game stats and scoring summary.
Starter Gunner Kiel was knocked out of the game after a hit by Bryson Albright that drew a roughing-the-passer penalty early in the third quarter. Kiel's head slammed onto the ground and he came to the sideline with a concussion.
The Bearcats play at Memphis on Thursday, giving Kiel little time to recover.
"I don't know the situation with Gunner," Tuberville said. "It's only a five-day turnaround."
Former LaSalle High star Drew Kummer threw three touchdown passes for Miami, which was coming off a 58-0 loss at Wisconsin. The RedHawks used three quarterbacks to keep the Bearcats off-balance, and turned one of Moore's fumbles into a field goal for a 33-30 lead with 7:12 left.
They failed to get points off the other three turnovers, giving the Bearcats a chance to catch up at the end.
"In a 37-33 game, every play is big," Miami coach Chuck Martin said. "When we look at the tape, we're probably going to vomit when we see all the plays we left on the field."
Moore finished 7 of 14 for 118 yards with the four turnovers, the second week in a row that Cincinnati's high-powered offense self-destructed. Kiel threw four interceptions and Cincinnati had five turnovers total during a 34-26 home loss to Temple the previous game.
Kiel was 15 of 26 for 145 yards before getting hurt on Saturday.
The RedHawks were trying to get their most notable win under Martin, who took over a winless team and led it to three victories last season. For the third year in a row, they let the Bearcats pull one out in the fourth quarter.
It was a better showing by Miami, which was shut out in its last two home games against the Bearcats — 27-0 in 2011 and 14-0 in 2013.
Miami had 333 yards in the first half, which ended with Cincinnati up 24-23. The RedHawks' biggest frustration was settling for a field goal and a 33-30 lead after Moore fumbled at the Cincinnati 8-yard line after faking a handoff.
"It was a fun time," Cincinnati linebacker Eric Wilson said. "When it comes down to the fourth quarter, the defense has to lock in."
Cincinnati receiver Shaq Washington was hit hard while trying to make a catch in the first quarter and collapsed while walking off the field, but later returned. Senior cornerback Adrian Witty suffered a significant injury to his lower left leg in the fourth quarter and was carted off. His leg was in a cast after the game.
