Last week I was unable to bring you all the aftermath of the Louisville-Indiana game. Needless to say, it was a hairy experience as the Cards pulled out a 21-14 victory with a goal line stand late in the game to seal it. This week, Louisville battled lowly Boston College back in the friendly confines of L&N Stadium. Boston College took Florida State to the limit last week, losing by only 2 31-29. While they had found a QB, they still have a mediocre defense. Louisville was looking to play its first complete game of the season. They’ve had fits and starts, but have been unable to put together a complete and consistent game.
On a beautiful day in the Ville, two teams took the field of battle. One looked to improve to 4-0, continue to maintain their place at the top of the ACC rankings, and give their fans fireworks on the field. The other looked to build on its previous week’s performance, get a road victory in the ACC, and possibly salvage a terrible season. On this day, the Eagles found their wings clipped while the Cardinals soared to heights not seen since the days of Lamar Jackson. It was a display of offensive genius as UofL lit up the scoreboard with a 56-28 victory.
It wasn’t just one player who sparked the offensive inferno that engulfed the Eagles. Multiple players had excellent days. It begins, as most performances of this nature, with the quarterback. Jack Plummer had his best day as a Cardinal this day. It was a spectacular performance that saw Plummer complete 18-of-21 passes for 388 yards and 5 TDs and run for 1 TD with a series of impressive pump fakes to open a lane to the end zone.
To throw for that many yards, there have to be guys catching the football. There were multiple receivers who made this passing attack successful on this day. Let’s begin with the player who has been Plummer’s number 1 target so far this season, Jamari Thrash. He led the team in receptions with 5 and had 71 yards receiving and 1 TD. He was being focused on by the BC defense so he wasn’t able to break the 100-yard barrier. However, another receiver was and led the team in receiving yards. Ahmari Huggins-Bruce only had 3 receptions, but had 113 yards receiving and 2 long TD catches. He found his way behind the defense and the Eagles could never quite soar with this Cardinal. Chris Bell chipped in with one big 48-yard reception as well.
On the ground, UofL was just as successful. Jawhar Jordan continues to impress and if he keeps up his torrid pace, may find he has a trip booked to New York City in December. He contributed in a number of ways, but obviously was most devastating on the ground. He rushed for 134 yards on 18 carries and averaged 7.4 yards per carry. He scored twice rushing the football. A screen pass was also taken 75 yards to the house by the star Cardinal running back. Jordan also had a 40-yard kickoff return as well.
Louisville’s other two primary backs had good games as well. Isaac Guerendo was the second leading rusher with 9 carries for 36 yards. He also caught 2 passes for 17 yards. Maurice Turner rushed only 5 times for 10 yards, but did tie Ahmari Huggins-Bruce for second-most receptions with 3 and had 36 receiving yards.
Defensively, the Cardinals were stout. While they did have a few miscommunications and issues with coverage that allowed BC to get their 28 points, they were also disruptive and kept the Eagles from ever swinging the momentum. It was a career day for linebacker Jaylin Alderman. The holdover from the previous era was sensational with 8 total tackles including a sack. Ashton Gillotte was a menace all day, constantly collapsing the pocket and forcing BC QB Thomas Castellanos to run. He ended up with 2 critical sacks. In the back end, Jarvis Brownlee recorded 5 total tackles and knocked down 2 passes. Devin Neal continued his stellar play with 4 total tackles and 2 passes knocked down. Meanwhile, corner Quincy Riley ended up with 3 tackles and 2 passes defensed.
This performance on Saturday was what UofL fans, coaches, and players have expected. It wasn’t a completely perfect performance, but it was really close to it. The Boston College Eagles flew into the Yard hoping to build on the perceived momentum they attained by hanging with Florida State, but they ended up grounded. It was like Thanksgiving in the Ville as the Cards smoked those turkeys and feasted on them to the tune of a 28-point murking. Everyone got to see what a Jeff Brohm offense with immense amounts of talent could look like. They got the 4-0 start they had dreamed about when the schedule was released all those months ago.
Now, these Cards flock to Raleigh and a date with a daunting NC State Wolfpack team. It’s this Friday night at 7 pm. They are pulling out all the stops as it is a blackout game for them. They are 3-1 with their lone loss coming to Notre Dame. Familiar foes in Brennan Armstrong and Robert Anae will be looking to continue their success against Louisville. On the other hand, Louisville has a ton of momentum. 4-0 for the first time in forever. They have a new staff led by Jeff Brohm and the offensive weapons many other schools would die to have. It will likely be a shootout like an old western: guns blazing, horses galloping with the chisel-jawed riders driving them hard as they take aim and fire away. The only question is, who has the horses and the marksmen to get the job done? I’m confident it’s the bird with teeth, not the Wolf with a nifty hat. Friday, I think Cardinal fans will be celebrating 5-0 and a primetime showdown with Notre Dame. Only time will tell.
Below, you can see the postgame presser, highlights, etc.
https://x.com/louisvillefb/status/1705719173924475077?s=46&t=3wwS1kIYbLup5US00a7y9Q
https://x.com/louisvillefb/status/1705714841321639990?s=46&t=3wwS1kIYbLup5US00a7y9Q
https://x.com/louisvillefb/status/1705741233086189896?s=46&t=3wwS1kIYbLup5US00a7y9Q
https://x.com/louisvillefb/status/1705748891868520831?s=46&t=3wwS1kIYbLup5US00a7y9Q
https://x.com/louisvillefb/status/1706060268407595133?s=46&t=3wwS1kIYbLup5US00a7y9Q
