By Ed Peak
Much at stake in the final two regular season games for University of Louisville football, starting Saturday against visiting 16th ranked North Carolina at 3:30 p.m.
North Carolina State (7-3, 3-3) lost last weekend at home to Boston College, 21-20. Rival Kentucky (6-4) follows November 26 is coming off a 24-21 home loss to Vanderbilt, a team that had lost 26 straight Southeastern Conference games.
Interesting that the losses occurred in Raleigh and Lexington.
The Wolfpack hasn’t been the same since losing quarterback Devin Leary to a season ending injury. The Cardinals might be without its senior quarterback Malik Cunningham who was injured at Clemson. His status will be updated later in the week. Backup quarterback Brock Domann played the second half and was 13 of 25 passing for 175 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Domann led the team to a victory at Virginia earlier this season.
NC State’s s M.J. Morris threw and ran for early touchdowns. He was 12 of 24 for 135 yards and had an interception. But the Pack committed four second-half turnovers. It was the Pack’s third one point game.
“I don’t really know what to say,” said N.C. State coach Dave Doeren. “I’m pretty down for these kids.”
“We’re banged up a little bit right now,” said UofL Coach Scott Satterfield following the loss. “Malik got dinged again (left shoulder). We don’t have many receivers. When things were down we didn’t give up, we kept fighting until the last play when we scored.”
Tyler Hudson had a big game with 11 catches for 163 yards against the Tigers.
Louisville lost to N.C. State last season 28-13 and were embarrassed by Kentucky at home, 52-21 when quarterback Will Levis did what ever he earned. Levis ran for four to touchdowns in the game. But this Kentucky team seems to be limping home after starting 5-1. It’s offensive line has been under fire most of the season.
An 8-4 finish would please a Louisville football fan base that has been less than cordial to Satterfield. Remember, this team was 2-3 after a one point loss at Boston College almost seven weeks ago.
A nice turnaround, but two more victories would be outstanding.