LOUISVILLE, KY. (November 18, 2006)-- After USF and Louisville's defenses did their best to not allow any first downs through most of the first quarter at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium tonight, the homestanding Cardinals eventually put together a balanced offense with a high pressure defense in a 31-8 win over the Bulls.
Louisville's (9-1, 4-1) defense sacked USF (7-3, 4-3) freshman quarterback Matt Grothe seven times and Cardinals quarterback Brian Brohm threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns, while the Cardinals also had 172 rushing yards in the game.
Grothe persevered to throw for 237 yards and a 44-yard touchdown to Amp Hill, but he was held to negative rushing yards for the first time all season, largely due to the seven sacks.
“A lot of things happened that were bad,” said USF head coach Jim Leavitt. “Even at 10-0 at halftime, I really felt good about the game. They got a third and 23 on us that was bad. We had them hemmed up. Our defense did some good things, did some bad things. We didn't block very well, didn't give Matt (Grothe) enough time, dropped too many passes. We can't play like that and win. I'm disappointed in how we played.”
Neither team could even convert a first down in its first three possessions of the game before Louisville threatened on its fourth drive. After marching 40 yards to the USF 28, quarterback Brian Brohm hit Kolby Smith on a slant to the Bulls one-yard line, but a George Selvie hit caused a fumble that was recovered by Mike Jenkins.
It was USF that then looked ready to score first as Grothe led the Bulls on a drive that reached the Louisville six-yard line after just seven plays, highlighted by a 21-yard pass to Taurus Johnson and a 43-yard strike to Amarri Jackson. But after a holding penalty on the first play of the second quarter pushed the Bulls back to the 16-yard line, Delbert Alvarado missed a 37-yard field goal attempt into the wind.
Louisville would strike first on the very next possession, marching 80 yards in 10 plays, including 45 on the ground. But it was a four-yard crossing pattern to Harry Douglas that put the Cardinals on the board as they took a 7-0 lead just over four minutes into the second quarter.
While USF's offense could not sustain anything for the remainder of the second quarter, the Bulls defense did an admirable job holding Louisville to just three more points in the first half, and USF trailed just 10-0 at intermission.
But with the defensive pressure on Grothe continuing throughout the second half and the Cardinal offense finding its groove, the Cardinals jumped to a 24-0 lead after three quarters.
USF did avoid the shutout on a quick-hit five play drive midway through the fourth quarter when Grothe was four of five for 73 yards on the drive. After the 44-yard strike to Hill, Grothe capped the score with a pass to tight end Ben Busbee for the two-point conversion.
Now trailing 23-8 with just under six minutes, USF was forced to attempt an onside kick. Louisville recovered and marched in for its final score a seven-yard run from Anthony Allen.
Linebacker Stephen Nicholas led the USF defensive efforts with 10 tackles, including one for a loss and one pass breakup.
USF now readies for its regular season finale next Saturday November 25 at West Virginia. The game will air live on ESPN2 at noon.
