UC Backup QB Evan Prater leads #24 Bearcats’ game-winning drive against USF

Evan Prater
Evan Prater UC QB 10 8 2022 Postgame Presser #24 UC 28 South Florida .mp3

#24 Cincinnati improved to 5-1, 2-0 AAC and won its 30th consecutive home game in front of a sold-out crowd of 38,557, the seventh-largest attendance in stadium history with the 28-24 win over South Florida.

South Florida took a 24-21 lead at the start of the fourth quarter when Bulls’ quarterback Gerry Bohanan found Xavier Weaver for the second time on a 16-yard slant. The play came after the defense stuffed Bearcats’ running back Ryan Montgomery on a 4th-and-1 attempt and then followed the stop with a 59-yard run by Bohanan on the quick change.
 
Trailing by three and with starting quarterback Ben Bryant out due to injury, the Bearcats’ defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back and started the go-ahead drive at the midfield with a little under 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
 
After a completion from redshirt sophomore quarterback Evan Prater to redshirt senior tight end Josh Whyle, McClelland found space in the Bulls’ second level and raced to the end zone to give Cincinnati the final advantage.
 
Prater played nearly the entire fourth quarter after Bryant was injured on UC’s third offensive play of the final frame. He finished 1-of-2 passing for 15 yards and added 15 yards on the ground.
 
“What a gamer,” Fickell said of Prater. “He prepares like it too, that’s the beauty of it. He’s never batted an eye. He’s never changed his attitude since Ben (Bryant) was named the starter. When it comes down to it, he’s going to win some ballgames for us.”

COURTESY UC SPORTS COMMUNICATIONS