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The University of Louisville Cardinals began a five to six week stretch without quarterback Brian Brohm on Saturday beating Kansas State 24-6. Backup quarterback, Hunter Cantwell, completed 18 of 26 passes for 173 yards while the Cardinal rushing attack ran for over 200 yards. With the offense turning the ball over four times, the Cards defense picked up the slack holding the Wildcats’ offense to just 247 total yards on the day.
“I am very proud of the way our defense played. They played fast and they played aggressive. They made plays and bailed the offense out when the offense turned the ball over,” said head coach Bobby Petrino.
On the first possession of the game Cantwell marched the offense down the field for a 12-play, 97-yard drive. Harry Douglas capped off the drive with a 19-yard touchdown reception. The running backs paced U of L’s first score with four different Cardinals combining for over 50 yards on the ground.
However, the Cardinal offense went cold for the rest of half, mustering just one more score on a field goal by kicker Art Carmody to go into the half with a 10-0 lead.
The Louisville defense forced Kansas State into a four and out on their first possession of the second half. Cantwell again led the Cards down the field on their first possession of the half for a score. Sophomore, Brock Bolen, had 26-yard run on the drive that was finished off by George Stripling who punched it in from one yard out to put the Cards up 17-0.
Late in the third quarter, Mario Urrutia made what may have been the biggest play of the game. With the offense threatening in Kansas State territory, Cantwell was picked off by junior defensive back Marcus Watts. Watts had a clear path for the score but was run down and tackled by Urrutia after a 68-yard return. The Louisville defense held tough and then blocked the Wildcats’ field goal attempt that shifted the momentum back to the visiting team.
“We just came out today and finished the whole game,” said senior linebacker Nate Harris. “We just come out and play the way we know how to play and show everybody that we can play defense too.”
Louisville scored three plays later after the block on another solid run by Bolen from 17 yards out, putting the game away for good. Running back, Thomas Clayton, added a late score for Kansas State on a 69-yard touchdown run leaving the Cards to milk the clock and leave Manhattan with a 24-6 win.
Louisville has next weekend off and will travel to Middle Tennessee State to take on the Blue Raiders Fri., Oct. 6, at 8 p.m.
