UofL Football Recap: Cards Ground The Falcons

Pregame Notes:

Good afternoon, Card Nation. It’s Game day in The Ville on a hot, sunny September Saturday. Louisville is coming off their first bye-week of the season, and due to a key injury, a well-timed off week. Transfer linebacker, Kalib Perry looks to make his first start replacing the injured Stanquan Clark. The last time the Cards took the field, they defeated a very game JMU team 28-14. Louisville needed a fumble recovery by AJ Green and a 78-yard rushing touchdown to put away the Dukes. The Cards will take on a 2-1 Bowling Green team led by former Tennessee Titans Hall Of Fame running back Eddie George. The Falcons will use a lot of motion and misdirection to get the Cards looking elsewhere and not trusting their eyes in order to manufacturer some points. On defense, look for the Falcons to send blitzes when the opportunity presents itself. Expect to hear and see Lampron, Pringle, and Pascal’s name a lot this game, because they will be around the ball a lot.

1st Quarter:

Bowling Green elected to receive the ball first. The Falcons picked up a first down on the first play, but were forced to punt 4 plays later. On Louisville’s first possession, Moss connected on an 8-yard pass to Jaleel Skinner, but were forced to punt 3 plays later. A Louisville muffed punt gave the Falcons excellent field position, but the defense held firm and forced Bowling Green into a 49-yard field goal. The Cards trailed in the first quarter for the second consecutive game 3-0. Keyjuan Brown put the Cards on the board with a 2-yard touchdown run, but the Cards had to overcome a couple of penalties. Louisville took a 7-3 lead into the 2nd quarter. 

2nd Quarter:

Antonio Watts starts the quarter with his first career interception. Louisville moved the ball down the field using chuck plays of 31 and 32 yards respectively by Decari Collins, before Keyjuan Brown punched in his 2nd touchdown of the game. Louisville’s defense continued to play tough assignment football and forced another punt from Bowling Green. This time Lacy took it back 75 yards for a touchdown. With Lacy’s touchdown, he becomes the first player since Billy Perrin to have 2 punt return TDs in the same season. As the half was coming to a close and the Falcons were driving, D’Angelo Hutchinson ended any threat of a Bowling Green score with an interception. Louisville took a 21-3 lead into intermission.

Halftime Stats:

T.O.P:  12:05

Passing Yards: 205

Rushing Yards: 16 (2 TD’s)

Sacks: 0

T.Os: 2 (interceptions) 

3rd Quarter: 

Coming out of the half, the Cards gave the Falcons a heavy dose of Keyjuan Brown. Louisville penalties hindered them from adding another touchdown, so the Cards settled for a 24-yard field goal by Cooper Ranvier. Ranvier added another 3 points for Louisville, this time from 40 yards out. The Cards led 27-3 midway through the quarter. Nick Keller entered the game to attempt a 57-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining and connected to extend Louisville’s lead again. The 57-yard kick is the 2nd longest in program history and the longest in L&N Stadium. The Louisville Cardinals took a 30-3 lead into the final quarter.

4th Quarter:

The second half of Cooper Ranvier and the kicking game continued, as he connected on his 3rd field goal of the half. The 48-yard field goal made Cooper 3/3 for the day. Bowling Green scored there only two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, when the majority of the starters were out. The Cards got a touchdown for reserve running back Braxton Jennings. Braxton Jennings ran with power and toughness, just the change of pace the Louisville offense needed. Bowling Green was able to put together a couple of scoring drives, but the game was never in doubt midway through the 3rd quarter. Louisville wins 40-17.

Final Stats:

Passing Yards: 326 (1 TD)

Rushing Yards: 126 (3)

Post Game Notes:

Louisville improves to 3-0 on the young season. Outside of the one big play, that went for 75 yard, the defense looked great. Although Louisville didn’t record a sack, they were able to play in the backfield a lot. The Cards picked off Bowling Green twice. Offensively, there is still a lot to be desired. Louisville continues to make silly penalties, penalties that most time halts drives and keep points of the board. Our kicking game showed excellence today. Cooper Ranvier had an excellent game by making his 3 field goals while Nick Keller showed if it’s a kick over 50 yards, he can make it. This should give coach some more confidence in his kicking game knowing that he has 2 kickers who can get you points within 50 yards or beyond 50 yards. The next time the Cards take the field, it will in be in their ACC opener on the road in Pittsburgh.