Michael Warren II – Noteworthy
Michael Warren II’s career-long 81-yard touchdown helped spur Cincinnati to a 37-21 win over Tulane on Saturday for the Bearcats’ first 6-0 start since 2012. Warren broke through the left side of the Tulane line and dove into the end zone for a 10-7 second-quarter lead and Cincinnati (6-0, 2-0 American Athletic Conference) pulled away from there. Warren gained 123 yards on 18 carries for his third straight 100-plus-yard rushing performance and fourth of the season.
Warren’s run – the third longest run from scrimmage in Bearcat history – negated a 17-yard touchdown pass from Justin McMillan to Darnel Mooney for Tulane (2-4, 1-1) and Cincinnati led 24-14 at halftime after the teams traded touchdown runs. “I just saw a cut, made another cut and got vertical,” said Warren, who sparked the offense that had struggled until then. “It takes one play to get us clicking. It was the play to get the team riled up and get the momentum.” Tulane’s Darius Bradwell scored from 19-yards out after a 64-yard kickoff return by Ryan Jones with 2:51 left in the first half. Desmond Ridder, 15 of 25 passes for 174 yards with a touchdown and an interception, ran up the middle for a 28-yard score with 41 seconds to go until halftime “It was a pass play. I came off my first read and saw a hole in the pocket,” Ridder said. – AP College Football