Any University of Louisville football fan who tends to dawdle, getting stuck in traffic or lingering too long at the tailgate, is going to be sorry. The Cardinals always opt to receive at the opening kickoff, setting up the opening salvo of Lamar Jackson fireworks.
Many in the sellout crowd of 55,218 fans were still shuffling to their seats at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium as the UofL quarterback broke loose for a 36-yard touchdown. Less than one minute, thirty-three seconds into the game on UofL’s opening drive.
Jackson would be involved in four touchdowns, passing for three and running for one, building a 44-0 lead for UofL at the half and cruising to a 54-13 dismantling of North Carolina State.
Raising his touchdown total to 34 for the season, archiving the old mark of 33 previously shared by Brian Brohm and Dave Ragone. The amazing part is that Jackson still has five games remaining in the regular season.
The sophomore quarterback phenom and Heisman frontrunner had 359 of his 431 yards on offense by halftime. He threw TD passes of 74 yards to Jaylen Smith, 3 yards to Cole Hikutini and 16 yards to Jamari Staples.
Speaking of records, kicker Blanton Creque had four field goals and six extra points to set a single-game scoring record for a UofL kicker with 18 points (the old mark was 17). A booster shot of confidence for a freshman who had Coach Bobby Petrino shaking his head at the beginning of the season.
Good game for running back Jeremy Smith, too, scoring on two one-yard runs. Also chalking up 53 yards on a day when Brandon Radcliff would not see the end zone and manage only 19 yards rushing.
On the defensive side, Keith Kelsey in on eight tackles, Chuckie Williams and Stacey Thomas with six of them. Interceptions coming from Jonathan Greenard and Stacy Thomas, setting up second quarter touchdowns. Greenard, a freshman, was stepping in for Devonte Fields who was apparently injured.
Nice to see explosiveness return to the Louisville offense, the sluggish performance against Duke serving as a reminder that running up the score is never a given. Scoring early and often is much more fun, especially with a Lamar Jackson playing for the home team.
Curious how so few comments are being heard about how the Cards are now bowl eligible. That noise is drowned out by the speculation of IF we can make it to that national championship game. Sure beats grinding teeth, agonizing over IF we can become bowl eligible! Go Cards!