Trailing 28-23 early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals scored two touchdowns in the final 11 minutes to beat Miami 38-31.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — There’s been a first, nasty wiretap. A series of missed tackles. A missed field goal. An extra point blocked. A targeted breach.
And that happened right in the first half of Louisville’s game against the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Beverlee Schnellenberger, left, presents the Schnellenberger Trophy to Louisville coach Jeff Brohm following an NCAA college football game between Miami and Louisville, Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The trophy is named after Schnellenberger’s late husband, former Louisville and Miami coach Howard Schnellenberger.
Did Jeff Brohm’s team have the determination to overcome these issues to beat the Hurricanes and earn a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game?
Trailing 28-23 early in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals scored two touchdowns in the final 11 minutes to beat Miami 38-31.
“We wanted to make sure we won ourselves to get to the championship game and not get in our way in any other way,” Brohm said.
“I think our team really wanted to win. It meant something to them.”
Louisville’s defense secured the win by stopping the Hurricanes on four consecutive plays from the U of L 4-yard line in the final two minutes and then repeating it on the final play of the game.
Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke threw a pass from behind midfield into a crowd of Miami and Louisville players near the Cards’ goal line.
The ball was hit in the air and not on the ground.
The win increased the Cards’ record to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the ACC, securing their spot in the championship game against undefeated No. 4 Florida State at 8 p.m. on Dec. 2 in Charlotte, N.C.
Racking up ten wins, Brohm earned a two-year contract extension that should keep him busy with the Cardinals through the 2030 season.
Not a bad year for someone whose team finished eighth in the league before the season — and the whose team was 1-point underdogs in numerous Las Vegas sportsbooks Saturday afternoon.
But the awards ceremony and contract negotiations can wait until the end of the season. Five different Cardinals scored and Nick Lopez made his first field goal of the season.
None of the five were Jawhar Jordan or Jamari Thrash, the Cards’ leading rusher and receiver all season. I call it coaching.
“It’s an honor for our team,” Brohm said. “We carry a lot of stuff. They’ve stopped us several times…and when they do, you have to come out and do something different.
“That’s why it’s important, in attack, to have creativity and the ability to use all your weapons. To make sure you have answers when things get boring.
Tight end Nate Kurinsky opened the scoring with his second touchdown of the season. He was followed by Isaac Guerendo, who scored from twelve meters.
Then came a tricky play, a pass from Jack Plummer to Trevonte Slyvester, an offensive tackle who was billed as a tight end, including a number change.
“We’re trying to find every way we can to score,” said Plummer, who completed 24 of 37 passes for 308 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.
“We have to value all members of the team.”
Evan Conley scored his first touchdown this season on a five-yard quarterback draw. Yes, Brohm made a game-winning play as a third- or maybe fourth-string quarterback.
The game-winning touchdown came on a 58-yard pass from Plummer to Kevin Coleman with 4:17 to play after two Miami defenders collided.
You might call that technique poor or some other great coaching scheme.
Regardless, it was the fourth and final time that Louisville regained the lead by winning on the road for the fourth time this season, all by one touchdown or less.
“They threw everything they had at us,” U of L safety Cam’Ron Kelly said.
Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo takes a tough loss during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Miami on Saturday, Nov. 1.
February 18, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Florida (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Wilfredo Lee
Miami scored 21 points – in the first half. That’s the most points the Hurricanes have scored in their first seven ACC games this season.
Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke lost his job this season due to the turnovers surrounding him. Van Dyke has 11 interceptions in his last five games.
Louisville struggled to make Van Dyke flinch. The smugglers were unable to reach him. The secondary struggled in coverage, receiving three balls for 17 yards or more in the first half.
Louisville’s defense improved in the second half, holding Miami to 10 points.
“We had to calm down in the second half,” Riley said. The Cardinals’ next target is one that has been on the table since Brohm took over last December:
The Governor’s Cup game against Kentucky will be played this Saturday at L&N Cardinal Stadium.
Louisville hasn’t beaten the Wildcats since Lamar Jackson was the Cardinals’ quarterback in 2017. Kentucky has won four in a row by an average margin of 30.5 points.
“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Brohm said. “It will be at home and our fans will want to see a win. “After we have fun, we’re going to have to regroup and try to find a way to win that game.”
