Louisville, Ky – October 5, 2024 – Matthew Hudson
A beautiful fall day in Louisville Kentucky looked to be the perfect backdrop for another ACC game at L&N Stadium. The Cards were coming off the hard fought 7-point loss to Notre Dame in South Bend and were looking to get back to their winning ways at home. SMU had other plans however.
What looked to be a battle between 2 teams of equal skill and size came down to who was able to execute at the end of the game. With the Cardinals blowing multiple big play attempts and turning it over in the red zone it was just a matter of time before the Mustangs were able to seal the win.
Tyler Shough had a very efficient game for UL, completing 22-35 and amassing 329 yards along with 2 TDs. It was SMUs Kevin Jennings that was the story of the day however showing his dual threat capabilities racking up 281 yards through the air and another 113 on the ground.
Issac Brown was the best RB for the Cardinals on the day with 117 yards on just 10 carries. The best RB for the Mustangs wasn’t actually a RB but was instead the QB, Jennings showed great football IQ as he picked the right moments to scramble and pick up some huge gains from the Mustangs.
The Defensive Lines were the biggest factors in this game as Louisville was unable to create any pressure in the backfield and recorded only 1 QBH in the entire game. Compared to SMUs 7 QBHs and 3 sacks its easy to see why the Mustangs had longer more sustainable drives.
1st Quarter
SMU came out swinging and wasted no time getting on the Scoreboard. In took just 3:21 to go 75 yards and take the 7-0 lead. Drive was finished off by a 5-yard TD run by Roederick Daniels Jr. (C. Rogers PAT Good)
Louisville responded in a similar fashion taking only 2:39 to get a TD of their own. After a big 58-yard bomb from Shough to Huggins-Bruce set the Cardinals up in the Red Zone Shough was able to find Brooks in the endzone for the 6-yard TD. (B. Travelstead PAT Good)
The track meet continued as the Mustangs once again scored quickly. This time taking just 2:36 off the clock before Preston Stone finds Key’Shawn Smith for the 10-yard TD to retake the lead 14-7. (C. Rogers PAT Good)
Finally, a defense was able to keep the opposing team out of the Endzone. Unfortunately for the Cardinals it was SMU that was able to make a stand. B. Travelstead was able to complete a 46-yard to save the drive.
2nd Quarter
SMUs QB Kevin Jennings broke a big 59-yard TD run to get the Mustangs on the board again, extending their lead to 21-10 with 6:46 remaining in the 2nd. (C. Rogers PAT Good)
Louisville faltered in the Redzone but was still able to come away with a 41-yard FG by Brock Travelstead. Cards cut the lead to 8 with 2:23 remaining in the 1st half.
SMU was able to put together a short drive just before the half and C. Rogers was able to extend the lead as connected on a 55-yard FG and pushed the lead to 24-13 at the half.
3rd Quarter
The Cards got just what they needed to start the 2nd half, an 8 play 78-yard drive that ended in a TD. Donald Chaney was able to punch it in on a huge 4th and Goal from the 1. Louisville still down 20-24. (B. Travelstead PAT Good)
The Mustangs also scored on their opening possession of the 2nd half but the only come away with a 43-yard FG by Colin Rogers. Lead back out to 7 halfway through the 3rd quarter.
Ja’Corey Brooks with the play of the game and maybe the year as he made a contested grab over a defender, breaks a tackle, and out runs the defense for an 86-yard TD reception to tie the game! Louisville now tied at 27 with 5:40 left in the 3rd. (B. Travelstead PAT Good)
4th Quarter
Louisville took a risk early in the 4th going for it on 4th down deep in SMU territory. The Mustangs held and got the ball back on their own 19 yard-line.
SMU was able to survive a fumble scare on the 10-yard line and put it in the endzone to retake the lead 34-27. LJ Johnson Jr took it in from 1-yard out for the Mustangs. (C. Rogers PAT Good)