LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Say this for Miami’s 52-45 victory over Louisville – the second-largest crowd in the history of L&N Stadium at least got its money’s worth. This one was full of momentum swings, big-plays, and high-level quarterback play.
But in the midst of it all, Miami senior quarterback Cam Ward further burnished his Heisman Trophy credentials, and Louisville failed to get the upset win it needed to keep itself in the ACC championship conversation. A crowd of 59,115 came primed to celebrate. But Louisville could not get the stops it needed to beat a balanced and athletic Miami team.
One play typified Louisville’s problems. On 3rd and three with just over four minutes to play, running back Damien Martinez plowed into the middle of the line, ran over the first Louisville defender, pushed off another tackler, then dragged four Cardinals into the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown run to put Miami up two scores.
In a game it had to have – a game with Michael Irvin on the Miami sideline and Sam Madison and Teddy Bridgewater in town on the Louisville side – the Cardinals got big plays on offense and in special teams, but not enough on defense.
And the score told the tale. Ward completed 21 of 32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. Miami piled up 541 yards of offense, and scored double-digit points in every quarter. The Hurricanes punted only twice, and fumbled once. The rest of their drives ended in scores.
Louisville’s Chris Bell makes a catch in the second quarter of a loss to Miami in L&N Stadium.
Louisville's offense was no slouch. Cardinals QB Tyler Shough completed 31 of 51 passes for 342 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Louisville also ran for 106 yards and posted 448 total yards. It punted only once in the second half and scored on every other second-half possession.
Nonetheless, it added up to another one-score loss for Louisville, its third in the past four games after winning five one-score games a season ago.
The start of the second half was as entertaining as any stretch of football in the stadium in recent memory. At one point, the teams had combined for 42 plays and 42 points in the half.
Momentum changed on a dime.
One minute, Miami had sustained a 14-play drive to take a 14-point lead and seemed on the verge of draining the life out of the stadium.
In the blink of an eye, Louisville’s Caullin Lacy returned the ensuing kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown, and momentum pitched a bit back toward the Cardinals. A couple of plays later, was wearing a Cardinal Head mask after Louisville forced a Miami fumble and Tyler Shough fired a laser to Ja’Corey Brooks to tie the score at 31.
What is it a famous former Louisville coach likes to say on ESPN? Not so fast my friend? Miami reclaimed momentum within moments when quarterback Cam Ward scrambled out of trouble with the help of a clothesline block, then let fly a 63-yard pass to Xavier Restrepo.
It might’ve kept momentum, too. But Louisville coach Jeff Brohm called a fake punt on 4th and seven at his own 28, and Duane Martin delivered a 14-yard run to spark the Cardinals, who went on to complete a 13-play, 75-yard drive to tie the game at 38.
Don’t get comfortable. Ward dropped back two plays into Miami’s next drive and hit Samuel Brown, who spun out of a Louisville tackle and sprinted 59 yards. Three plays later Miami was in the end zone, and up 45-38.
A Louisville punt on its next possession stopped its scoring string, but a big second-down sack by Ben Perry leaving Miami with a 3rd and 17 on its next series, and it looked as if Louisville might get an elusive stop. Instead, Ward took off up the middle when he couldn’t find a receiver, and sprinted up the middle for 22 yards.
Two plays later, Ward dropped back and was hit as he threw. Louisville’s Antonio Watts scooped the ball up and ran it in for a 65-yard touchdown. Officials let the play stand, but video review nullified the play, because Ward’s arm was moving forward.
That review was the beginning of the end for Louisville. Miami went on to score several plays later, and after a Louisville punt on its next possession, drove down for the long run by Martinez.
For Louisville, only one home game remains this season. The Cardinals head to Boston College for a 7:30 matchup on Friday night. Miami gets Florida State at home.
Copyright 2024 WDRB Media. All Rights Reserved.
