By Brandon Davis
Cards wide out Scott Long had a career day, as the Cards were able to pull off the upset on 16th ranked South Florida at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Long, who missed the Cards first four games of the season with foot injury, caught 5 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cards led for most of the game, until Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe hooked up with full back Ben Busbee early in the fourth quarter to give the Bulls their first lead since the start of the second quarter at 20-17. Louisville answered back on the next series with a six-play 63 yard touchdown drive, capped by 24 yard touchdown reception by Long from quarterback Hunter Cantwell to give the Cards the lead 24-20.
Grothe beat up the Louisville secondary, throwing for 344 yards and two touchdowns. Grothe also threw two interceptions, including one picked off by defensive back Johnny Patrick late in the fourth quarter with just over three minutes left in the game on what turned out to be the Bulls last offensive drive.
Long put the Cards on the board early in the second quarter on 69-yard touchdown pass from Cantwell. Cantwell finished the game with 212 yards in the air and two touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown on a sneak from inside the one-yard line towards the end of the second half.
Though Grothe had his way with the Cards defense through the air, the run defense effectively shut down the Bulls running game holding them to just 24 yards on eight carries. The Cardinal defensive front was able to put significant pressure on the Grothe, racking up four sacks on the Bulls quarterback.
Penalties really hurt the Bulls in throughout the game as, they were flagged 14 times for 109 yards, including a defensive hold on a missed field goal attempt by Louisville kicker Ryan Payne that would have given them the ball back late in the foyrth quarter. The penalty allowed the Payne a second try that he connected on from 34 yards out, giving the Cards the 17-13 lead.
The win gives head coach Steve Kragthorpe his biggest victory of his tenure to date so far, and puts the Cards (5-2, 1-1) right in the hunt for the conference title.
