By Whitney Spencer

The University of Louisville football team fell to 2-5 on the season, and 0-3 in the Big East, with a blowout loss to the University of Cincinnati on Saturday.

Entering the game ranked at number five, the Cincinnati Bearcats were without senior starting quarterback Tony Pike, but this didn’t stop them from a dominant performance. Sophomore Zach Collaros started in place of the injured Pike, and used every offensive weapon he possessed. Deemed as a threat to run, Cincinnati ran several designed quarterback running plays for Collaros that continued to throw Louisville off the entire game.

Louisville never seemed to find a rhythm or a steady lineup, as the game slipped out of hand. Adam Froman started at quarterback for the Cardinals, but struggled mightily. Froman finished 6 of 10 with 42 yards passing and one touchdown. He would later be replaced with former starting quarterback Justin Burke, who also had little impact. Burke finished 2 of 5 with 5 yards total for the game. Burke would then be replaced by seldom heard of Will Stein, who finished 6 of 9 for 98 yards passing.

The quarterback position wasn’t the only position that saw several different players getting time. After only 36 yards on kick returns, senior receiver Trent Guy was replaced by redshirt freshman Jacques Caldwell. Caldwell showed promise, as he finished with four returns and 103 yards on the day.

After rushing for 56 yards on 12 carries, Victor Anderson was removed from the game due to an undisclosed shoulder injury. In place of Anderson was Cincinnati native, freshman Darius Ashley. Ashley showed why he was so highly touted coming out of high school, as he finished with 67 yards on 13 carries. Bilal Powell started the game, but didn’t see much action, as he finished with an ineffective negative 1 rushing yard for the game.

Cincinnati’s playmaker, senior wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, finished with 9 yards on punt returns, 129 yards on three kick returns and 82 yards on four receptions.

The Cards look to bounce back with a win against Arkansas State next Saturday, Oct. 31.