Pregame Notes:
Good afternoon Card Nation, the University Of Louisville’s football team returns home to face the #6-ranked (6-0) Miami Hurricanes. The Canes are led by the Heisman candidate Cam Ward. Ward has thrown for 2,219 yards and 20 touchdowns and 5 INTs this season. The Cards are coming off of a much needed win vs UVA in Charlottesville, VA. Before the 34-27 win, Louisville had dropped 2 consecutive games. The Cards are now 4-2 overall and (2-1) in ACC play. Louisville is led by quarterback Tyler Shough with 1,674 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Isaac Brown is coming off 146 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries against Virginia. Louisville beat Miami 38-31 in the last meeting to clinch their first appearance in the ACC Championship game.
1st Quarter:
Miami won the toss and deferred until the 2nd half. Louisville took the field on offense first, but was only able to gain 2 yards and had to punt on 4th down. The Miami offense came out and was able to move the ball, despite good pressure from the defensive line, ultimately the Canes had to settle for a 55-yard field goal. Trailing by 3 on Louisville’s 2nd possession, Isaac Brown scored on a 43-yard run to give the Cards a brief 7-3 lead. I said brief because Miami went on a 5-play, 70-yard scoring drive to retake the lead (10-7) with 5:05 remaining in the quarter.
2nd Quarter:
On the very first play of the quarter, Louisville missed a tackle in the backfield which would’ve forced 3rd down. On the next play, Cam Ward connected on a 49-yard touchdown pass to Sam Brown Jr. The Cards now trailed 7-17 early in the quarter. Louisville answered the Miami scoring drive with one of their own. Tyler Shough capped a 4:00 minute, 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with a 3-yard pass to Mark Redman. The Louisville special teams made a great and aggressive tackle of the kick return that seemed to have given the team some momentum. The defense came out and got sacks on 1st & 2nd down and forced a 3rd and 24. Louisville forced a Miami punt, but Lacy’s good punt return was called back because of a block in the back. A Louisville fumble that found its way into the end zone was recovered for a touchdown by Miami, and the Canes took a 24-14 lead. Brock Travelsead connected on a 22-yard field goal as time expired, as Louisville trailed 17-24 at intermission.
Halftime Stats:
T.O.P: 15:19
Passing Yards: 168 (1TD)
Rushing Yards: 99 (1TD)
Sacks: 2
T.Os:
3rd Quarter:
Miami marched down the field on a 14-play drive that took over 6 minutes off the clock on their first possession of the quarter. Ward found Restrepo for the 9-yard touchdown pass to extend the Canes lead to 31-17, with 8:21 remaining in the quarter. Caullin Lacy returned the ensuing kick 100 yards for the touchdown, and brought the Cards right back within 7 points (31-24). It was the 11th 100 yard kick return in school history. The Louisville defense forced a fumble on Miami’s 1st play of the 2nd possession. Tyler Shough found Brooks for a 21-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 31. Miami needed a conversion on 4th-and-1 and a blown holding called by the officials to extend their lead to 38-31. Louisville trailed 31-38 heading into the final quarter of regulation.
4th Quarter:
Louisville tied the game at 38 with a 4-yard pass to Duke Watson from Tyler Shough. Louisville was able to produce one more touchdown late in the quarter, but the defense couldn’t stop Miami’s run or passing game in the quarter. Trailing 45-38, it appeared the Louisville returned a 60+ fumble recovery to tie the game at 45, but after review it was ruled an incompletion. Miami turned the overturned fumble call into a touchdown, and now the Cards trailed 52-38. Tyler Shough found Brooks for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Cards a sliver of hope, but the onside recovery by Miami with less than a minute shutdown any chance of a Louisville comeback. Louisville fell to Miami 45-52.
Final Stats:
Passing Yards: 342 (4TDS)
Rushing Yards: 106 (1TD)
Post Game Notes:
Louisville drops to 2-2 in ACC play and 4-3 overall. There is no shame in losing to the 6th-ranked Miami Hurricanes, but Louisville does need to focus on how and why they lost this game. The missed tackles were absolutely costly today and the offensive line play has to get better for Louisville to have any chance at reaching their goals. The Louisville defense allowed 45 points today, 45! Cam Ward was able to escape the pocket and create plays for himself, especially on key downs. Ward was also able to buy time for his receivers to beat man coverage and find open spots in the Louisville zone. Tyler Shough threw for 342 yards and 4 touchdowns. Ja’Corey Brooks led all receivers with 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Cards will head to Chestnut Hill to take on the Boston College Eagles at 7:30pm on October 25th.
