LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – This morning on ESPN’s College GameDay, Nick Saban, noted football analyst, took up the subject of the Louisville football team and said, “Louisville’s kind of flying under the radar this year. We haven’t talked about them much.”
After a 31-19 victory over Georgia Tech in their ACC opener on Saturday in front of a crowd of 50,272 in L&N Stadium, maybe a few more people will be talking about the No. 19-ranked Cardinals, especially with a game at Notre Dame ahead next weekend.
While the learning curve in this one was substantial, Louisville (3-0) got huge plays in all three phases to contribute: A fumble return in the end zone by Ramon Puryear, a 52-yard touchdown catch from Ja’Corey Brooks after he was spun around on a pass interference call, and a 50-yard return of his own punt block by Tayon Holloway.
After opening with less-than stiff competition against Austin Peay and Jacksonville State, Louisville fell behind 7-0 and led just 17-14 at the half. But that was better than a year ago, when Georgia Tech lit up the Cards for a 28-13 halftime advantage.
Quarterback Haynes King again posed a challenge, with both his arms and legs. He wound up passing for 328 yards and running for 58 more. But he did not throw for a touchdown, and the Yellowjackets did not get an offensive score in the second half.
The game turned on one fourth-quarter sequence. After Louisville stopped a potential game-tying drive when T.J. Perry tackled King inches from the goal line on fourth down with 11:28 left, the Cardinals had momentum.
Louisville coach Jeff Brohm watches his team during a game against Georgia Tech in L&N Stadium on Sept. 21, 2024.
And one play later when Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough slipped in the end zone and flipped the ball forward incomplete – but not before his knee hit the turf – they had lost it again. Louisville still had a 24-19 lead after the ensuing safety, but King went to work following the free kick.
He hit Malik Rutherford over the middle for 19 yards to the Louisville 45 on Georgia Tech’s second play from scrimmage. Louisville’s Jeff Brohm took a timeout to challenge the call, as Rutherford appeared to let the ball hit the ground while sliding out of bounds, but officials couldn’t find conclusive enough evidence to overturn their call of a complete pass.
Georgia drove to the Louisville 30, then its drive stalled. T.J. Quinn and Rene Konga stuffed King up the middle for a four-yard loss, then after a pair of incompletions, Georgia Tech lined up for a 40-yard field-goal try that would’ve pulled the Yellowjackets within two.
Instead, Tayon Holloway rushed through the line, blocked the punt, and had it bounce right to him, at eye level. He picked it up and sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown. Instead of clinging to a 24-22 lead, Louisville led 31-19 with 7:05 left, and had a measure of control.
Post game news conference: Jeff Brohm and players speak after Louisville football win over Georgia Tech
After Georgia Tech drove inside the Louisville 25 on its ensuing possession, Quinn came up with the big play, delivering a hit on Georgia Tech running back Jamal Haynes to give the Cardinals the ball back with just under 4 minutes to play.
Offensively, Louisville used big plays to great effect. Shough had four pass completions of 37 yards or more, and that 181 yards on big plays accounted for more than two-thirds of its total passing yardage. The Cardinals, however, could manage little on the ground. They averaged less than 3-yards per rush, a far cry from the offense that came into the game ranked ninth nationally in rushing offense and second nationally in yards per rush, at 8.2.
Louisville didn’t play poorly on offense, but it hurt itself with penalties. Flags cost Louisville plays of 32, 21 and 29 yards, and their seven penalties for 69 yards were by far the most they’ve had this season.
Brooks was the offensive standout for the Cardinals – with four catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
Shough completed 13 of 19 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns, including the acrobatic grab by Brooks and a 37-yard TD pass to Chris Bell in the second quarter.
Defensively, Louisville got nine tackles from senior Tahveon Nicholson. Quincy Riley forced the first-quarter fumble that Puryear pounced on in the end zone, giving Louisville its first touchdown to tie the game.
Konga finished with seven tackles, assisted on a tackle for loss and had a pair of quarterback hurries.
Louisville now prepares for another big test, a matchup against No. 17 Notre Dame in South Bend next Saturday at 3:30.
While the learning curve was substantial, Louisville (3-0) got huge plays in all three phases to contribute.
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