BOZICH | Louisville football makes case for Top 25, overwhelming Austin Peay, 62-0

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — This one was over after … what?

One play? Two? The coin flip? The pre-game stretch?

You decide.

It wasn’t long.

Maurice Turner rolled 21 yards on the the University of Louisville's first offensive play. Quarterback Tyler Shough found Chris Bell with a 24-yard dart on play two.

You didn’t need Nick Saban or Pat McAfee to recognize that Austin Peay had no ability to slow or in any way inhibit the Cardinals, whether coach Jeff Brohm decided to run or throw the ball. No, as in none.

The Cards could have named their score — and the one that Brohm picked was U of L 62, Austin Peay 0, in front of announced crowd of 47,067 at L&N Cardinal Stadium on a steamy Saturday afternoon. The Cards were a snap away from making it 69 after fifth-string quarterback Travis Egan ran the ball to the Austin Peay 1 but Brohm (wisely) let the clock run out.

The Cards scored 38 points on their first seven possessions, spreading the touchdowns to four different players. They blocked a punt (and later blocked another). They knocked Austin Peay’s starting quarterback out of the game. They intercepted a pass. A good time was had by all, including anybody who wagered on Louisville and gave the 36.5 points.

And that was just in the first half. This did not look like the Louisville offense that Brohm struggled to praise after two Saturday scrimmages early in August.

"As an offensive-minded coach, whenever there's a little bit of mistakes, you know, including myself, you get a little bit of a sour taste when there's a couple plays you wish you had back," Shough said.

"So I think maybe that's where (Brohm's criticism) is coming from. But I mean, short answer, the defense is really good. They make it hard on us.  I'm glad they can play someone else then."

Shough sat after the first two quarters, finishing 18 of 24 for 232 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. His quarterback rating was 211.2. He looked the part of a guy in control as a seventh-year player.

"I really like how Tyler played," Brohm said. "He's been consistent and steady all spring, all summer, all fall camp. So he played pretty much how I thought he would ... It's fun to watch. I like watching him play."

Pierce Clarkson replaced him at quarterback on Louisville’s first second half series. This game was so one-sided that the Cards’ seventh touchdown was scored by Duke Watson, a true freshman halfback who was not listed on the Cards’ depth chart.

All Watson did was gain 24 yards on his first three carries. He ran with burst and power. If you doubted Watson's ability to accelerate, he rolled to a 58-yard carry in the final two minutes of the game.

Defensively, Louisville limited the visitors to 34 yards rushing on 34 carries. The Governors had another 72 yards passing. In the first, third and fourth quarters they limited the visitors to 14 yards or less.

“You just really have to keep your foot on the pedal.," said U of L defensive lineman Ramon Puryear, who rolled 22 yards for a touchdown on a recovered fumble.

"It doesn’t matter who the opponent is. We could up against a top-ten team in the country, and we would have the same mentality so that’s what it’s all about. If you take your foot off the pedal, that’s when they start coming back, so we just wanted to keep that mentality going and finish the game off strong.”

Considering Brohm’s team sat at No. 26 in the preseason Associated Press poll, the Cardinals should land in the Top 25 when the votes are collected again Monday.

No. 10 Florida State lost its opener to Georgia Tech. No. 14 Clemson was buried by top-ranked Georgia. No. 24 North Carolina State struggled with Western Carolina. A spot could open for Louisville.

Louisville will carry a 1-0 record into its home game with Jacksonville State at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday.

The Gamecocks are the team the Cards were forced to recruit with a $1 million guarantee after Indiana bailed out of the final two seasons of its three-game contract with U of L. Jacksonville State is coached by former West Virginia and Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez and should provide more opposition than Austin Peay.

But not much.

Jacksonville State lost its opener to Coastal Carolina, 55-27, allowing 552 yards.

Translation: We’re not going to have a valid read on Brohm’s second team until Georgia Tech visits on Sept. 21.

After upsetting Florida State in Ireland last Saturday, Tech opened its home schedule with a game against Georgia State Saturday night. The Yellow Jackets will also play Syracuse and VMI, four total games, before traveling to Louisville. They should be 4-0 when they arrive.

Shough played quarterback precisely the way that Brohm said that he would. He looked poised and unflappable in the pocket. He threw the football with precision and touch. And he showed more confidence and proficiency throwing a deep pass than we generally saw from the Louisville offense last season.

Fifteen different receivers caught at least one pass, with Ja'Corey Brooks leading the way with eight catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

"I feel complete confidence in any game with them," Shough said. "Really no nerves. You only get so many opportunities in this game."

Brohm rotated three backs in the first half — Turner and two fresh faces, namely redshirt freshman Keyjuan Brown and freshman Isaac Brown.

Brohm, remember, was generally guarded in his praise of his offense after two early scrimmages. But the coach did praise Isaac Brown for his ability to crackle through creases and accelerate through the secondary.

Brown showed that he was more than simply a solid practice player. He flashed through the right side for a 77-yard touchdown on Louisville’s second possession of the second half. The Cards finished with 293 yards rushing and 278 passing.

"It was really exciting to see out them out there breaking tackles," Shough said. "It's like a 5-headed monster. I know there's going to be a lot more touchdowns to come from that whole room."

So it went. The Cards did what they were supposed to do — overwhelm an out-manned opponent.

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