CINCINNATI -- A storm forced the Bearcats to wait even longer before getting back on their home field. Gunner Kiel made the delayed homecoming a lopsided success.
Kiel threw for a pair of touchdowns before taking the second half off with a big lead, and Cincinnati pulled away to a 52-10 victory over Alabama A&M in its season-opening return to its on-campus stadium.
The Bearcats (0-1) were back at Nippert Stadium, which underwent an $86 million renovation during the past year. Cincinnati played at the Paul Brown Stadium last season and won a share of the American Athletic Conference title on its temporary home field.
Kiel, who led the league with 31 touchdown passes in his first collegiate season, helped the Bearcats pull ahead 35-7 at halftime. He went 18 of 22 for 233 yards with touchdown passes of 6 and 47 yards to Johnny Holton Jr.
Alabama A&M is coming off a four-win season and lacks an experienced quarterback. The Bulldogs used junior college transfer De'Angelo "Tootie" Ballard and redshirt freshman Damion May, who went a combined 10 of 26 for 148 yards with an interception.
The game drew 39,095 fans, a record for the stadium with its increased seating capacity.
The start was delayed 90 minutes because of a storm. Dozens of Cincinnati students stormed the field pregame, bored at waiting through the long delay. They quickly retreated to the stands when security headed out from under cover.
Kiel made the soaked student section happy by completing all five of his passes in Cincinnati's opening drive, including a 6-yard TD pass. The Bearcats bogged down with Kiel's fumble and a blocked punt that set up Alabama A&M's lone touchdown.
Cincinnati put it away with 28 points in the second quarter, its biggest quarter in four years. The Bearcats have put more emphasis on the running game, trying to take some of the burden off Kiel, and did a better job of mixing in runs.
Hosey Williams had a 6-yard TD run, and Mike Boone scored twice from the 1-yard line during the big quarter. Kiel's 47-yard touchdown pass to Holton completed a 97-yard drive.
The Bearcats rushed for 296 yards overall and four touchdowns, with Tion Green picking up 127 yards. Redshirt freshman Hayden Moore played the second half and completed 8 of 14 for 107 yards with a touchdown.