Sometimes one play can set the tone for what University of Louisville football fans can expect from their team. Everything on the line, the Cardinals needing to stop Indiana at the one-and-a-half yard line. Is this where they cave, allow Indiana to score 21 unanswered points and send the season off a cliff?
Everything right there . On that invisible line. Eyes wide shut. Let the Observer know when the play is over.
Okay, a bit melodramatic. Or maybe not. Open your eyes. Seeing would have been believing. Somehow the UofL defense stopped in the Indiana offense. The rally is over, the momentum has shifted and Louisville just has to hold on to the ball for four more minutes.
And the Cardinals will do just that, thanks to some nifty footwork by quarterback Jack Plummer. Coming up with runs of 20 and 13 yards for badly needed first downs to run out the clock. Beat those Hoosier 21-14 before an estimated crowd of 45,000 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. From all indications, Card fans outnumbered Hoosiers, UofL winning its first game against IU in three games.
The necessity of the fourth quarter heroics a shocking surprise. The Cardinals dominating the first 30 minutes, taking a 21-0 lead to the intermission. UofL opening up with an 85-yard touchdown reception by Jamari Thrash to open up the scoring. Thrash recorded 158 receiving yards , marking his fifth 100-yard receiving game and the first of his Louisville career.
Maurice Turner, with a two-yard run, and Jawhar Jordan, for 25 yards, accounted for two other touchdowns in the first half.
“Well, it’s great to come out with a win,” said UofL Coach Jeff Brohm. “I thought our guys competed for four quarters. It was touch-and-go in the second half but we found a way to toughen it up when we needed to and get a great stop. Tremendous job by our defense and our coaches to have a good plan on the goal line.”
Saved their butts is what the UofL defense did. That desperate goal line stop a gold standard for this team, no matter what happens the rest of the way.
Excellent summary of what turned out to be a nail biter for Card fans. Defense turned it up a notch when needed and definitely improved this week. Offense continued to deliver more exciting plays.
Looking forward to BC game. Go Cards!