In this review, Cincinnati Football soars to new heights in the polls. Missed opportunities hurt the Cincinnati Bengals and FC Cincinnati. Plus, the formal unveiling of a tribute to Joe Morgan.

Cincinnati Football rises to program high in AP Top 25

Fresh from their historic win against Notre Dame Football on October 2nd. Cincinnati Football opened American Athletic Conference play last Friday. With a 52-3 rout over Temple Football at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. After taking a 17-3 lead into the halftime break. Cincinnati scored 28 points in the third quarter.

Cincinnati benefited from a wild weekend in the AP Top 25. After then No.3 Iowa Football beat then No.4 Penn State at home last Saturday. Along with then No.1 Alabama Football losing at Texas A&M hours later. After going into last week ranked No.5 in the AP poll. Cincinnati is a program-best third in the AP poll. While ranking fourth in the AFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll. Becoming the first Group of Five school in the coaches poll’s top four during the College Football Playoff era.

Next up for the No.3/4 Cincinnati Bearcats, a home game against UCF Football. Coming up this Saturday at Noon Eastern time on ABC.

Takeaways from Cincinnati Bengals overtime loss

The Cincinnati Bengals lost a hectic overtime game to the Green Bay Packers last Sunday. Losing 25-22 in Cincinnati through a field goal from Mason Crosby. Breaking a stretch of five-consecutive missed field goals from Crosby and Cincinnati’s Evan McPherson. Crosby missed three of the five potential game-winning field goals. He also missed an extra point in the second quarter.

Crosby made a 44 yard field goal in the second quarter to give the Packers their first lead. Then made two second half field goals to give Green Bay a 22-14 lead. McPherson missed what would’ve been a career-high 57 yard attempt. Hitting the right upright with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. He then missed a 49 yard attempt in overtime that went barely wide left.

Another big moment from Sunday’s game was Joe Mixon’s fourth quarter touchdown. Which set the stage for Tee Higgins’ game-tying two-point conversion reception. Two clutch plays unfolding with 3:27 left in the fourth. Going through last week, whether Mixon would be healthy enough to play was uncertain. He missed most of last week’s practices due to an ankle sprain.

Mixon scored Cincinnati’s lone rushing touchdown of the game. All of Cincinnati’s touchdowns happened late in quarters. Samaje Perine got the Bengals on the board first. Through a four yard reception with 1:15 left in the first. Ja’Marr Chase took a 70 yard reception to the house with 36 seconds before halftime.

Two other big moments from Sunday’s game involved Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. He threw his second interception of the game in Cincinnati’s opening overtime drive. One of several missed opportunities for Cincinnati late in the game. The other big moment happened after the game. Burrow was taken to a hospital to be evaluated for a possible throat contusion.

Next up for the 3-2 Bengals, a road game against the Detroit Lions. Marking the first of three-consecutive road games for the Bengals. One Detroit player to watch in Sunday’s game is Derrick Barnes. The Lions rookie linebacker is a Covington, KY native. Barnes is also Holy Cross High School’s first NFL draftee. Which in the spirit of transparency is my alma mater. Sunday’s game is set to kick off at 1 PM Eastern on FOX.

Joe Morgan mural unveiled at Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Joe Morgan’s passing. The anniversary arrives days after a tribute to Morgan’s legacy. Through the unveiling of a mural of Morgan last Saturday. During a ceremony at the Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy in Cincinnati’s Roselawn neighborhood. Morgan was one of the academy’s most notable supporters.

The mural was painted by artist Brent Billingsley in collaboration with the Reds. It depicts Morgan in his Big Red Machine era Reds uniform; in front of a vibrant multicolored sky. Members of Morgan’s family attended the ceremony. Along with members of the Reds Youth Academy. Morgan’s teammate George Foster spoke along with other Reds dignitaries.

FC Cincinnati lose to GM Albright’s former team

FC Cincinnati lost 2-1 at home to the Philadelphia Union last Saturday. In a match pitting FCC’s new general manager Chris Albright against his previous employer. Albright was Philadelphia’s technical director before FCC hired him earlier this month. Philadelphia got on the board first through Kacper Przybylko’s first half stoppage time goal. Paxten Aaronson gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute.

Cincinnati missed numerous opportunities despite out-possessing Philadelphia 63-37 percent. Their lone goal was scored by Haris Medunjanin in the 82nd minute. Next up for FCC, a home match at TQL Stadium against Orlando City this Saturday. Kick off is set for 7:30 PM Eastern on WSTR-TV 64.