CINCINNATI (AP) — Desmond Ridder led Cincinnati on a 92-yard fourth-quarter drive to take the lead then stopped Ohio at the Bearcats 1-yard line with 52 seconds left on James Wiggins’ interception for a 34-30 win on Saturday.
Michael Warren’s 3-yard run brought the Bearcats all the way back from a three-touchdown deficit for Cincinnati’s fourth straight win to start the season. Cincinnati has already matched its win totals of the last two seasons.
Rourke frustrated the Bearcats in the first half when Ohio built a 24-7 lead. He finished with 96 yards, including a 37-yard run on Ohio’s final possession. He passed for 178 yards, eluding tacklers or getting passes off in nick of time to draw three roughing-the-passer penalties.
It was the first meeting in 36 years in this intrastate rivalry that began in 1896. The Bobcats grabbed a 24-23 lead in the series that includes four ties.
The Bobcats took a three-touchdown lead in the second quarter after Rourke improvised on a broken play. Rourke, who also passed for a touchdown and had a reception called back by penalty, eluded tacklers on a 3-yard run when the intended ball carrier was no where to be found.
The Bearcats were limited to one first down until they took possession with 9:54 left in the first half, driving 80 yards in nine plays. Michael Warren capped the drive with a 24-yard run.
Ohio put together a 73-yard drive with the benefit of three major penalties, including an unsportsmanlike penalty on an assistant coach, to take a 24-7 halftime lead with a 25-yard field goal by Louis Zervos.
Cincinnati scored quickly after the second-half kickoff. Ridder completed a 77-yard pass to Rashad Medaris for a touchdown. It was the longest pass play of Ridder’s career and the first career TD catch by Medaris.
Ridder added a 9-yard scoring run and a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jashon Jackson.
Ridder finished with 274 yards on 19-of-29 passing. He threw one interception, the first of his career. Warren was the leading rusher with 124 yards in 24 carries.

Ohio stats
Cincinnati 34, Ohio 30
Ohio 14 10 3 3 = 30
Cincinnati 0 7 14 13 = 34
First Quarter
OHI—Ouellette 9 run (Zervos kick), 8:40
OHI—Irons 12 pass from Rourke (Zervos kick), :23
Second Quarter
OHI—Rourke 3 run (Zervos kick), 11:12
CIN—Warren 24 run (C.Smith kick), 5:44
OHI—FG Zervos 25, :30
Third Quarter
CIN—Medaris 77 pass from Ridder (C.Smith kick), 13:42
OHI—FG Zervos 33, 8:38
CIN—Ridder 7 run (C.Smith kick), 3:31
Fourth Quarter
OHI—FG Zervos 47, 14:55
CIN—J.Jackson 26 pass from Ridder (C.Smith kick), 12:37
CIN—Warren 3 run (pass failed), 3:29
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OHI CIN
First downs 24 24
Rushes-yards 45-234 34-150
Passing 178 274
Comp-Att-Int 12-27-1 19-31-1
Return Yards 127 112
Punts-Avg. 4-41.0 5-38.4
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0
Penalties-Yards 8-85 14-150
Time of Possession 35:22 24:38
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Ohio, Rourke 9-96, Ouellette 21-71, Irons 12-64, Ross 3-3. Cincinnati, Warren 23-124, Ridder 10-28, (Team) 1-(minus 2).
PASSING—Ohio, Rourke 12-27-1-178. Cincinnati, Ridder 19-29-1-274, (Team) 0-2-0-0.
RECEIVING—Ohio, Odom 5-114, P.White 2-23, Irons 2-20, Meyer 2-15, Ouellette 1-6. Cincinnati, Deguara 6-69, Lewis 5-51, Medaris 3-104, J.Jackson 2-25, Geddis 2-24, Huber 1-1.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Cincinnati, C.Smith 49.