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The University of Louisville kept their national championship hopes alive on Thursday as they took down conference rival West Virginia 44-34. Junior Brian Brohm threw for over 300 yards for the eighth time in his career, as the Cards turned in a complete effort. With the offense totaling 468 total yards, the defense and special teams also got on the board with a fumble return and punt return for touchdowns.
“”That’s what you have to do to beat a team like West Virginia,” said head coach Bobby Petrino on his team’s all around effort.
U of L drew first blood, marching down the field on the games first possession. Brohm connected with three different Louisville receivers on the drive before stalling deep inside Mountaineers territory. Petrino and the offense settled for an Art Carmody field goal to go up 3-0. West Virginia answered later in the quarter, grinding it out on the ground. Sophomore Steve Slaton capped it off, taking an inside handoff straight up the gut for a 42 yard touchdown to put West Virginia on top 7-3.
The lead shifted back and forth until the Cards distanced themselves early in the third quarter. With Louisville leading 16-14 and driving, senior Jimmy Riley received a pass from Brohm but fumbled inside the West Virginia 20. After a review by the officials and the play being upheld, the Mountaineers were unable to capatilize as Slaton fumbled on the first play of the drive. Junior linebacker Malik Jackson scooped up the ball and ran it in for the touchdown to put U of L up 23-14. Just minutes later, after the Card’s defense forced West Virginia to punt, U of L’s Trent Guy returned it for a score. The freshman from Charlotte streaked up the left sideline to put Louisville up 30-14 with 9:23 to go in the third.
“That was a big one,” said Jackson. “It was good for our momentum.”
After the punt return by Guy, head coach Rich Rodriguez’s team never got closer than nine points. Despite the Mountaineers total offensive output of 540 yards, every time they scored Brohm and the offense answered. The Louisville defense also forced six West Virginia fumbles, recovering three which decidedly was the difference in the game.
Both Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas had over 100 yards receiving while running backs Kolby Smith and Anthony Allen balanced out the Cardinal running attack, combining for 120 yards on the ground.
While the victory was sweet, Petrino made it clear that there was “no time for partying” as the team looks to next week. The Cardinals (8-0, 3-0) will travel north to take on undefeated Rutgers on Thursday. West Virginia (7-1, 2-1) looks to rebound at home against Cincinnati next Saturday.
