By Matt Thacker
PHOTO GALLERY: Cards Take Back the Knights
The University of Louisville Cardinal football team proved they can win without the nation’s top scorer on their side as they cruised past the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 56-5 on Friday night in Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
Junior tailback Michael Bush, who leads the nation with 15.75 points per game, had to miss a game for the first time in his two-and-a-half-year career at Louisville due to a sprained left foot. He injured his foot last week in a victory over Pittsburgh.
The duo of Kolby Smith and George Stripling, however, made sure the backfield did not miss a step. Smith had two rushing touchdowns and 55 yards rushing on 17 carries. He also added a receiving touchdown, while Stripling rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.
“I think the players on this team have taken a lot of pride in overcoming obstacles when we have a player down,” Head Coach Bobby Petrino said.
With the win, Louisville improved to 3-2 in the Big East and 7-2 overall. Rutgers dropped to 3-3 in the Big East and 6-4 overall.
The game started shaky for Louisville. The Cards gave up sacks on the offense’s first two plays of the game. After a three-and-out on their first possession, the Cards punted the ball to the Scarlet Knights who struck first with a 32-yard field goal seven and a half minutes into the game.
Louisville answered with a pair of touchdowns on a sneak by quarterback Brian Brohm and a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Smith.
Half way through the second quarter, Louisville had its only major miscue of the game. Louisville punter Todd Flannery had his punt blocked by Manny Collins, and the ball went out of the back of the end zone for a safety. From that point forward, the Cards never looked back as they added 42 unanswered points.
Rutgers, ranked second in the Big East offensively, had only 187 yards of total offense and completed just one of 12 third down attempts, while Louisville gained 500 yards and completed eight of 12 on third down. It was the first time this season Louisville held an opponent to single-digits scoring.
Rutgers redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Teel struggled for most of the game. He went 12 for 24 and had two interceptions and just 91 yards passing.
“I think we’re molding a lot better as the season goes along,” freshman cornerback Rod Council said of the Cardinal defense.
The Cardinal offense shined in the air as well as on the ground. Brian Brohm completed 22 of 30 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns, and threw no interceptions. Wide receiver Joshua Tinch had a career-high 183 yards receiving with a touchdown on 10 catches.
Louisville also had scores from unexpected players. Kurt Quarterman, who usually plays guard, rushed for his first touchdown on the year, and backup tight end Breno Giacomini caught the first touchdown of his career.
While Louisville’s defense pressured Rutgers most of the night, Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil was unable to get a sack for only the second time this year. His total remains at 20, four shy of the NCAA record.
Louisville came into the game 0-4 all-time against Rutgers. The last time the two teams met, in 1986, Rutgers won 41-0 in Cardinal Stadium.
Louisville won their 11th straight game at home, moving them into a tie with Wisconsin for the fourth-longest active home winning streaks. Tinch downplayed Louisville’s success at home compared to their 2-2 record this year on the road.
“I think everybody plays good at home,” he said. “You’re kind of used to the environment.”
Petrino may not have an answer yet for the team’s road woes, but he has found a new way to motivate the team at home. Louisville wore black uniforms for the second week in a row after not using them since 1984.
While he wouldn’t say when the team would wear the black jerseys again, he said he doubts they’ll put them away forever after the team’s success the past two weeks.
“I’m a little bit superstitious,” he said.
The team has a week off but will take on Syracuse at home Nov. 26 before finishing up the regular season at Connecticut on Dec. 3.
