CINCINNATI — For the first time, Cincinnati is 10-0, the only 10-0 team in the country, and yet . . .
For the first time in a month, Bearcats quarterback Tony Pike returned from a broken left forearm and threw two touchdown passes, and for the first time in his career, running back Isaiah Pead (175 yards) went over 100 yards, and yet . . .
And yet, the Cincinnati Bearcats needed to recover an onsides kick with 39 seconds left to preserve a 24-21 win over West Virginia. It was the first two-turnover game of the season for the Bearcats, who last week were pushed to the limit by Connecticut, 47-45.
And yet, don’t expect coach Brian Kelly to make excuses for being one of six undefeated teams left standing.
“Winning football games is hard,” Kelly said. “That’s a top 25 team. We’ve done 10 in a row. We’re nicked up, banged up and we’re playing two quarterbacks. We’re just trying to work every day to win football games.”
The Bearcats have won by leading the nation in turnover margin. They had committed just four interceptions going into last night’s sold out game in Nippert Stadium where they had lost all seven games to West Virginia.
But the rigors of the season are taking their toll. The Bearcats lost a fumble for the first time. Zach Collaros threw a pick with 47 seconds left before halftime.
It’s not getting any easier.
“Our theme all week was, ‘Winning should be celebrated but execution should be worshipped,’ ” Kelly said.
Services are, when?
This weekend the Bearcats (10-0 overall, 6-0 in the Big East), ranked No. 5 by the AP and No. 6 by The Post, get to sit back and watch the competition.
“We have no focus on anything outside of West Virginia this week,” linebacker Andre Revels said. “We weren’t looking in the TV Guide looking up the games for Saturday.”
Saturday’s games feature Utah at undefeated TCU and Idaho at unbeaten Boise State. Those are the two schools Kelly admitted he’s keeping an eye on.
He knows it isn’t getting easier. This could have had a different outcome save for one crucial play. With West Virginia (7-3, 3-2) up 14-7, Pead launched himself from the 2.
The Mountaineers punched loose the ball as Pead extended toward the goal line. He fumbled and West Virginia recovered. But replay overturned the call and Cincinnati went ahead 24-14 before a late Mountaineers touchdown made it tight.
“We don’t hang our heads down after a win and talk about all this negative stuff that people outside will probably think that we talk about,” Revels said. “We talk about what needs to be done for the next upcoming challenge.”