MIAMI (WDRB) -- There's no live television broadcast when the University of Louisville visits Florida International tonight in Miami, but check this story for live updates during the game, with running updates and commentary throughout. (Though there's no TV, the game is available via Internet from ESPN3).
The first updates will come about 90 minutes prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff, then we'll update regularly as we go.
And watch WDRB.com and WDRB News for full coverage from Pat Doney and me from FIU.
THIRD QUARTER: After running for only 29 yards in the entire first half, the Cardinals found their running game in the third quarter. Their opening 3-and-out drive looked uninspired, but they forced an FIU fumble on the ensuing punt return, and Seniorise Perry had back to back runs of 24 and 16 yards before Jeremy Wright carried it in for a touchdown to put the Cards up 21-14.
FIU countered with true freshman quarterback E.J. Hilliard after Jake Medlock, who threw for 116 yards in the first half, was reported to have a broken foot. Hilliard, a speedster who succeeded Bridgewater as quarterback at Miami Northwestern High School, gave U of L problems with his speed, but a run down to the 1-yard line was negated by a holding call and, after he set up fourth and one with a nice scramble and long throw, the Cardinals held when a measurement showed FIU just short after its run up the middle.
Taking the ball on their own 10-yard line, the Cards then marched down the field slowly. Using a short passing game that is the staple of offensive coordinator Shawn Watson's West Coast philosophy, the Cards went 90 yards on 14 plays, and ate up 8:09 of the clock. They ended the third quarter with a 21-14 lead and the ball inside the FIU 1-yard line, but Bridgewater kept it himself for the TD on the first play of the fourth quarter to give U of L a two-touchdown lead. After running for just 29 yards in the first quarter, U of L ran for 89 in the third. SCORE: U of L 28, FIU 14.
HALFTIME: After a Teddy Bridgewater interception, his first interception, the teams traded 3-and-out drives until FIU got some rhythm.
Jake Medlock completed a pass of 18 yards to Wayne Times to put FIU in Louisville territory, then three plays later saw U of L cornerback Terrell Floyd coming on a safety blitz and simply Jacob Younger in the spot Floyd vacated. Younger went 26 yards to the U of L 17, then Shane Coleman carried to the U of L 8. Medlock sneaked it in from a yard out a couple of plays later, but then did not return to the game.
U of L managed just four plays on its next drive, then forced FIU to go three-and-out before finally sustaining something at the end of the quarter. After going 70 yards on its first drive of the game, U of L gained only 24 net yards the rest of the half until its final drive of the half.
The drive was aided by an early personal foul call on FIU on the second play, for a hit to receiver Damian Copeland's head on a sideline catch that he wound up dropping. Two plays later Bridgewater hit Andrell Smith for a 13 yarder, then after a pair of incompletions hit DeVante Parker with a short pass, and Parker made a quick move and took it 30 yards to the Florida International 3.
From there was some drama. Two Bridgewater passes went incomplete. After a pass interference two U of L rushing tries failed from inside the 2, before Bridgewater placed a nice pass to the left corner of the end zone to Smith for the touchdown that tied the score.
U of L finished the half with only 10 carries for 29 yards, but Bridgewater hit on 11 of 23 passes for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception. SCORE: U of L 14, FIU 14.
FIRST QUARTER: After FIU went 3-and-out on their first possession, U of L took over with a workmanlike 13-play, 70-yard drive for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Teddy Bridgewater hit fullback Nick Heuser for a 3-yard touchdown pass, but the scoring play was set up by some nice running in the red zone by Jeremy Wright, who also converted on a 4th and 1.
Bridgewater hit 5 of 8 passes on the drive for 50 yards, including a 16-yarder to Brandon Radcliff on third down to keep the drive going early.
FIU took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 70 yards, but had it called back to its own 34 because of a holding call.
Using a good run-pass mix, the Panthers moved steadily against the Cards, and a pair of 18-yard pass completions by FIU quarterback Jake Medlock set up FIU in the red zone and running back Darian Mallary carried it in the rest of the way.
On U of L's first play of the next series, Bridgewater threw his first interception of the season. He had Charles Gaines open deep down the right sideline, but slightly underthrew it and Jonathan Cyprien flew in late to pick it off.
After taking over at its own 53, FIU ended the quarter at the U of L 44.
FIU outgained U of L 92 yards to 70 in the quarter. Jeremy Wright had four carries for 18 yards in the quarter. Bridgewater hit on 5 of 9 passes for 50 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception. Medlock was 6 of 11 for 63 yards. SCORE: U of L 7, FIU 7.
30 MINUTES TO KICKOFF: The Cardinals will make a couple of starting lineup changes to the defensive line. B.J. Butler will start at defensive tackle and Lorenzo Mauldin -- a hybrid who sometimes drops into pass coverage -- will start at one defensive end spot.
While not a big game on the national radar or even on the local, judging by the sparse rain-soaked crowd, this is a huge game for a lot of U of L's Florida natives.
In fact, Teddy Bridgewater's mother told me Friday night that a lot of the guys weren't visiting their old neighborhoods in Miami, even when given permission to. "They said they don't want to deal with anything but the game," she said.
U of L's 17 Miami-Dade County players have plenty of friends on the FIU roster, and the neighborhood bragging rights are immense, even more after FIU scored the upset last season.
6 PM UPDATE: Pat Doney and I have arrived at FIU Stadium in Miami, where the area continues under a flash flood watch, but you don't have to watch for it to see it at the stadium. It's here. Just step out of your car.
Tailgaters, like Joel Jess of Jacksonville, are huddled under tents and cars are driving through as much as a foot of water on some roads, and entire parking lots are impassable, with as much as three feet in some lots.
Pat and I walked through ankle and shin-deep water to get to our spots and Pat will be under minimum cover to shoot the game.
U of L's radio team of Paul Rogers and Joe Tronzo are sitting in puddles of water under an outdoor tent to broadcast the game.
The first Cardinals have wandered out onto the field and are stretching. We'll have more pregame notes as kickoff goes closer, but on the availability front, Dominique Brown will not play again this week, but Charles Gaines and John Miller are starting. Keep checking back!
