by Steve Thompson
It’s rivalry day in college football. It doesn’t matter whether its’ Ohio State vs. Michigan, Florida State vs. Florida or Louisville vs. Kentucky, fan bases across the country settle scores for the year to come. Louisville enters today’s game ranked #10 in the nation and will compete in the ACC Championship, while Kentucky treads water, hoping not to drown in the Abyss Bowl of the SEC. Louisville won the toss and deferred to receive the 2nd half kickoff. Kentucky’s first possession will dictate the early tempo of the game. Louisville was assessed a personal foul which gave Kentucky great field position. Davis got the call early and busted loose for a 17-yard gain and a first down at midfield. After a sack by the Cardinal defense, UK was faced with a 3rd and 14. Leary was sacked by Cameron Wilson, losing 9-yards facing a 4th-and-23. Louisville’s defense answered the call.
Louisville’s offense started slowly, with Plummer gaining the first down on a keeper. Kentucky was clearly tracking all the moves by Jawhar Jordan, as there was not much real estate available through the gaps. On 4th-and-one, Jordan was able to skip outside and gain the first down. As the Cardinals moved closer to the end zone, Plummer went to the air. After scrambling for a first down, Jordan moved the ball to the one and gave the Cardinals their first score on a one yard run off tackle with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter. On a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took up over eight minutes, Louisville led, 7-0.
Kentucky started their drive on their own 48-yardline. On 3rd and 10, UK went to the air, with Andersonpicking up the first down. Jefferson plowed through the Cards defense setting up a first down on the 30. Leary’s pass to Dane was complete for a Wildcat Touchdown, tying the game at 7-7 with 8:07 remaining in the second quarter.
Plummer’s pass to Coleman gained 34-yards, putting the Cards on the 28-yardline of Kentucky. A hand to the face penalty moved Louisville backto the 38-yardline. Brock Travelstead hit the 47-yard field goal giving Louisville a 10-7 lead into the locker room at the half.
Louisville received the second half kickoff and quickly advanced downfield. Plummers pass to Bell was complete for 15-yards giving the Cards a first down on the UK 33-yardline. On 2nd and 4, Louisville’s Jawher Jordan punched it in from the 3 to give Louisville a 17-7 lead with 5:50 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
In football, there are key moments that can swing momentum and UK’s shining moment was about to begin. On the ensuing kickoff, Brown took the kickoff and returned it 101-yards for a Kentucky touchdown, cutting the lead to 17-14.
Louisville, feeling the proximity closing, opened the offense. Plummer hit Gatewood on a 7-yard TD pass, to extend the lead to 24-14 with 2:48 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Kentucky answered with a Leary pass to Quinn for a 55-yard completion, then hit Davis on a 25-yard scoring pass to cut the lead to 24-21.
On their next possession, Jordan had the ball stripped as he crossed midfield, giving UK the ball on the 47-yard line. Kentucky started the 4th quarter with momentum. On 4th and 13, Kentucky hit a 46-yard field goal to tie things up at 24-24 with 1-:21 remaining in the game. It was still anyone’s game.
Plummer was forced to run with pressure and fumbled the ball on the Louisville 22-yardline, giving UK a short field. Leary hit Davis on a 7-yard slant with Davis rumbling 25-yards for a Kentucky touchdown. UK’s first lead of the day put them up 31-24 with 8:37 left as the Wildcats had scored 17 unanswered points.
Louisville’s offense stalled and on 4th and one, UK stopped Jordan short of the first down and took over possession. With a seven-point lead, all the Wildcats had to do was manage the clock, but Leary, on the run was intercepted on the 25-yardline.
Plummer responded by hitting Bruce on a 25-yard TD pass with 2:33 left in the game to tie things up at 31-31. Kentucky took over on their own 25 and Leary hit Brown on a 22-yard reception to move the Wildcats to the Louisville 36 with 1:44 remaining in the game.
Ray Davis broke 2 tackles and scored for Kentucky with 1:02 left in the game, giving UK a 38-31 lead. Louisville took over on the 28-yardline with only :56 left and limped down to the 39 of Kentucky where their day ended on a interception by former North Hardin star Jordan Lovett in the end zone.
The Governor’s Cup is staying in Lexington and Kentucky gets bragging rights once more.
