Ugly start , Pretty finish, cards beat Pitt 34-27.

By : Cory Bosemer

Early bird gets the worm 🪱 as the old saying goes, and an early start it was for #CardNation as the Cardinals kicked off against the Panthers of Pittsburgh at noon.

The matchup between the Cardinals and the Panthers was the first away game, and the first true test of the season up to this point for Brohm and Co.

And let’s just say things uh well, didn’t go according to plan as the Cardinals couldn’t get going in the first quarter. Before the end of the first quarter, the Cardinals were down 17-0.

Now to be fair, Louisville had their fair share of uncertainties with players’ health. But I mean, don’t most teams?

As the second quarter got started, that’s when things somewhat started going positively for Louisville. The Cardinals would score 17 unanswered points to tie the game up.

The Panthers would then turn around after Louisville’s point run, and go on another one themselves as they’d score another ten before the first half ended. Half time would have the Panthers up ten by a score of 27-17.

The second half kicked off where the Cardinals were eager to prove their first half start & mistakes wrong.

Well let’s just say the first second half drive didn’t go as planned, where the Cardinals had a crucial moment decision to make.

Jeff Brohm and co send out there heavy legged yet powerful kicker. Last week Louisville kicker Keller broke the school record against BGSU with a 57 yard conversion.

And you know what the first points of the second half the Cardinals scored, came off of another 57 yard field goal conversion made by Keller.

Miller was starting to move the ball a bit but ultimately what steam he was building came to an end, as he over threw Meeks while trying to convert on a wide open 3rd down.

Keller would go out again to kick a 56 yarder, but unfortunately didn’t succeed as he missed it by a bit.

The Louisville secondary got hit hard on the first offensive play for Pitt during their second drive as Holstein tossed a 56 yard bomb to former Cardinal Hicks.

Just when the Cardinals needed a massive play, the defense delivered as Watts intercepted a pass in the red zone with a remarkable play/attempt by Watts.

So Louisville had the momentum off the pic as they started the drive, Moss converted on 3rd down with a nice pass to Caullin Lacey.

However, on the next series of downs, Moss would get sacked, forcing the Cardinals back in plus territory. Then on 3rd & 17, Pitt somehow drew the Cardinals’ line to move, pushing Louisville back to 3rd & 22.

Pitt would stop Louisville from taking back control with the first drive of the fourth quarter. Louisville’s defense would come up big as they stopped Pitt for the 8th time on third down.

Moss and his team would get the ball back on the next drive, and things would get to cooking for Cardinal Nation.

That’s when Miller would surpass the 300-yard mark, and Miller would have a fake and pass to Skinner for the touchdown!

And what do you know, first play of the Pitt drive, the Cardinals get a seven-yard sack by Konga. And guess what, the very next play, TJ Capers intercepts the pass!

Miller would find 6’2 Chris Bell on 2nd&12 to convert for the first down. And you know what Moss as he was getting hit gets the ball off in time and finds Nate Kurisky for six.

For the first time all game the Cardinals had their first lead of the game, 34-27 with just over 7 minutes to play.

With just over five minutes to go in the game, Pittsburgh would finally convert their very first 3rd down conversion. Quickly Pitt would be forced to try again for another third down conversion and failed thus being 1 of 9 on third downs.

With 2:52 to go in the game it was 4th & 7 for Pitt with the game on the line, and TJ Quinn gets through quickly causing Pitt to incomplete their pass.

The Cardinals would do what they needed to do in the final drive of the game securing their fourth victory of the season, and they’re seventh in a row overall dating back to last season.

Miller Moss had a game of two different players as he found a groove in the second half, and that defense stayed strong, having picks when needed and only allowing one third-down conversion.

The Cardinals will face the Cavaliers of Virginia, who are coming off an amazing victory in double overtime against the Seminoles of FSU. Kickoff is set for 3:30 at L&N Stadium.

Stats

Miller Moss : 33/59, 339, 3td, 1int

Chris Bell: 10 / 135 / 1

Caullin Lacy: 8 / 95

Nate Kurisky 1td

Jaleel Skinner 1td