CINCINNATI — It was nothing more than a scrimmage for the Bearcats Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium.
Brendan Sorsby threw five touchdown passes in the first 12 minutes of the game and finished a perfect 15-for-15 passing as the Bearcats routed the Northwestern State Demons, 70-0, in a game that was shortened from 15-minute quarters to 10-minute periods in the second half due to a mercy agreement reached between the two coaches at halftime. The referees agreed to the shortening as well just before UC kicked off to start the third quarter.
The Bearcats trio of Sorsby, Brady Lichtenberg and Samaj Jones combined for a school record of seven passing touchdowns in the romp. It was the third biggest win in Cincinnati history, behind only to the 124-0 rout of Transylvania in 1912 and a 115-0 blowout of Kentucky Wesleyan in 1921.
Northwestern State, coming off a 66-0 loss to Minnesota last Saturday in a game shortened six minutes due to storms, never had a chance. Just four plays and 96 seconds into the game, Sorsby found a wide-open Joe Royer from 21 yards for the first of his five touchdowns and the first of two on the day for Royer.
UC forced a quick three-and-out and Sorsby then unloaded a 55-yard strike to Caleb Goodie on the first play and it was 14-0 less than four minutes in.
Sorsby threw passes of 10 yards to Tawee Walker, a two-yard shuttle drop pass to Royer and 8 yards to Isaiah Johnson to cap off the first quarter scoring at 35-0. Sorsby, in 15 minutes, nearly tied Gunner Kiel (2015) and Tony Pike (2009) for the most touchdown passes in a single game at six. Sorsby finished 15-of-15 for 253 yards, five touchdowns and matched Kiels’ 15-for-15 effort from 2015.
Goodie got loose 💨
📺: ESPN+ https://t.co/avlWJkybJM pic.twitter.com/RlfUSYJ9yI
— Cincinnati Football (@GoBearcatsFB) September 13, 2025
Sorsby also ran 23 yards for a touchdown before being pulled with three minutes left in the second quarter.
Brady Lichtenberg got in on the act, throwing a perfect 29-yard TD pass to Cyrus Allen in the corner of the end zone with 16 seconds left before the half to make it 56-0.
The Bearcats scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions and 10 of their 12 in the game, overall. Samaj Jones found Isaiah Johnson from 42 yards on a screen to close out the scoring with under five minutes left in the game.
The Bearcats have the first of two bye weeks next weekend before heading on the road for their first true road game against Kansas on Sept. 27, which also marks their Big 12 opener.
