CINCINNATI, Ohio — Behind the leg of standout freshman kicker Andrew Gantz, the Cincinnati Bearcats (6-3, 4-1) derailed ECU’s (6-3, 3-2) American Athletic Conference title hopes in what was one of the premiere games of the league’s short history.

ECU rode a gritty second half comeback effort to the final whistle, but with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, Gantz (12-for-13 on the season, 2-for-2 on Thurs.) drilled a 47-yard field goal to give the Bearcats a 48-46 lead that would turn into a 54-46 win after a defensive scoop-and-score as time expired.

As a side-effect of some questionable coaching decisions by both sidelines, the final two minutes of regulation were as exciting as you’ll find in college football this season.

With 2:09 remaining and his team leading 45-40, Cincinnati Head Coach Tommy Tuberville elected to go for the sticks on 4th-and-two from the Bearcats’ own 32-yard line — a decision that walked the fine line between aggressive and bone-headed.

The ECU defense came up big, as it had for most of the second half. The Pirates stayed in their lanes and stuffed a speed option attempt. Senior safety Lamar Ivey, who also recorded two interceptions, dove on an errant option pitch at the 27-yard line where the Pirates took over with 2:03 to play.

The Pirates went on to score the go-ahead touchdown but not with the manor of clock-management that wins football games.

After going to the ground and running back Chris Hairston on the first play of the drive, quarterback Shane Carden proceeded to throw six consecutive passes – all falling incomplete. The drive survived due to two crucial pass-interference calls against the Bearcat secondary. The second of the two set ECU up with a 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line; Carden (35-for-61, 418 yards, 0 TD) punched it in from there with his legs, giving the Pirates a 46-45 lead that remained unchanged after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The ECU drive took only 1:02 seconds off the clock and gave the Bearcats, who finished with 586 yards of total offense, 1:01 seconds to move into field goal range with the strong wind in their favor.

Cincinnati’s Johnny Holton fielded the ensuing ECU kickoff at the 14-yard line and returned it to the 35-yard line, where sophomore quarterback Gunner Kiel took over. Kiel (29-for-44, 436 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT) proceeded to find receivers Casey Gladney and Mekale McKay for 15 and 16 yards in two of the next three plays, setting up the hero Gantz for what turned out to be the game-winning kick with 15 seconds left.

Coaching gaffes aside, the Thursday night matchup was a thriller because of two high flying offenses that combined for 1,158 total yards (ECU – 572, Cincinnati – 586).

Bearcat receiver Mekale McKay was a standout, racking up nine receptions for 172 yards. However McKay was bested by none other than ECU’s Justin Hardy, whose 15 receptions (and 181 yards) placed him just four catches away from grabbing sole possession of the NCAA FBS career receptions record.

All eyes will be on No. 2 next Saturday when ECU hosts Tulane.

ECU can take a couple positives from the heartbreaking defeat: Turnover ratio and penalties had been killing the Pirates in recent weeks; ECU won the battle in both of those categories Thursday, picking up four takeaways compared to two giveaways and committing five penalties for 38 yards compared to Cincinnati’s eight penalties for 64 yards.

The Pirates trailed 31-20 at the half, looking lost defensively and forcing no punts. But Defensive Coordinator Rick Smith made the necessary adjustments in the second half in order for ECU to have a shot at the comeback victory. In the final two quarters, the Pirates, led by Lamar Ivey and senior linebacker Brandon Williams, forced three punts and two turnovers.

In the end, it wasn’t enough, and the Pirates find themselves on the outside-looking in at the conference title chase. The what-ifs that come with missing two, first half field goals and failing to convert two 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter will likely be the focal points around Pirate Nation in the coming week.