Cincinnati – West Virginia’s defense came away with a pick-six and a scoop and score as the Mountaineers (5-4, 4-2) held off the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday afternoon 31-21.

On Cincinnati’s first possession, the West Virginia defense kept the offense alive with an offsides penalty, then the Bearcats methodically moved the ball down the field for a 13-play, 68-yard touchdown drive, capped by one and a 7-0 lead.

The Bearcats threatened to score late in the first quarter, in the second quarter moving the ball to the WVU 23 yard line, but on third and four, pressure from redshirt SPEAR KK Tarnue forced an errant throw from redshirt sophomore quarterback Brendan. Sorsby and senior free safety Anthony Wilson intercepted the pass and returned it 79 yards for the touchdown to tie the game at seven.

On third-and-4 for the Bearcats, Sorsby fumbled the ball at the Cincinnati 37-yard line and Tarnue pounced on the ball, giving WVU the 37.

West Virginia moved the ball to the six-yard line before stalling and settling for a 24-yard field goal for a 10-7 advantage at 8:40 of the second quarter.

The Mountaineers won the field position battle late in the second quarter and a 29-yard punt return by Preston Fox put the Mountaineers at the Bearcats’ 41-yard line and consecutive runs from the running back sophomore Jahiem White for a total of 31 yards. set up a 10-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore Nicco Marchiol to Justin Robinson as the Mountaineers took a 17-7 lead into halftime.

West Virginia extended the lead on its first possession of the second half. Marchiol hit sophomore Traylon Ray 38 yards down the left sideline, then on third-and-4 Marchiol climbed up the middle for an eight-yard touchdown and a 24-7 advantage.

Cincinnati seized the momentum late in the third quarter when Sorsby found redshirt junior running back Evan Pryor on a wheel route for the 80-yard touchdown pass and caught it to cut the deficit to ten, 24-14.

Sorsby continued to keep Cincinnati alive with his legs and capped a 71-yard, 11-play drive with a 12-yard run for a touchdown and his Bearcats were within three with 9:42 to play.

After picking up two first downs on third-and-1, Sorsby dropped back to pass and redshirt sophomore linebacker Trey Lathan forced the fumble and SPUR senior Tyrin Bradley Jr. recovered it and returned it 14 yards for the touchdown and a 31-21. leads with 3:30 to play.

Cincinnati drove 64 yards to the WVU 11-yard line on its final possession and settled for a 29-yard field goal to get within seven, 31-24, with 36 seconds remaining .

The Bearcats attempted an onside kick and the Mountaineers recovered to hold on for the 31-24 victory.