HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Desmond Ridder threw a season-high four touchdown passes and Cincinnati rolled to a 52-14 victory over Marshall on Saturday.
The Bearcats (3-1) were dominant throughout their final nonconference tuneup before the start of American Athletic Conference play.
Marshall (2-2) was limited to 256 yards of offense, with half of that coming in the fourth quarter.
Ridder had TD tosses of 13 yards to Rashad Medaris and 17 yards to Alec Pierce in the first quarter, and 13 yards to tight end Josiah Deguara in the second quarter.
Just before halftime, Ridder fumbled when he was hit by Marshall linebacker Tavante Beckett while attempting a pass. Deguara picked up the loose ball at the Marshall 2 and ran it in for a 28-0 halftime lead.
Ridder, a sophomore, added a 4-yard TD pass to tight end Bruno Labelle in the third quarter. Ridder completed 18 of 22 passes for 221 yards before being replaced by freshman Ben Bryant midway through the third.
Cincinnati led 45-0 entering the fourth quarter.
THE TAKEAWAY
Cincinnati: Ridder, whose four TD tosses matched his total from the previous three games, looked at ease in the pocket and it helped that his receivers often were wide open. It marked the first game this season that Ridder did not throw an interception. He also rushed nine times for 48 yards. Pierce had season highs of six catches for 108 yards.
Marshall: The Thundering Herd had averaged 32 points over its first three games but didn't put up much of a fight Saturday. Marshall sophomore Isaiah Green missed several of his targets and Marshall struggled to run the ball until after the outcome was already decided. Green finished 11 of 29 for 131 yards.
UP NEXT
Cincinnati: Hosts No. 22 UCF in its league opener next Friday.
Marshall: Travels to Middle Tennessee in its Conference USA opener next Saturday.
