Maybe the Knights were looking ahead to their matchup next week in Madison, maybe they did not take the Cardinal all too serious or maybe it was just a bad first half. Either way the Knights would have to overcome a 21 point deficiet to contimue their now 10 game winning streak and any shot at a potential National Championship Appearence.
Brooks would start the Knights off with a 27 yard TD run. Then Savage would throw 1 of 5 interceptions in the first half and this one went back for 6 as the Cardinal tied it up at the endof the first quarter. Louisville would take the lead on an Anderson 8 yrd TD run and after 2 more pics from Savage, the Cardinal would add TD passes from Stein to Nixon and Smith. The first half ended with Papa Johns Stadium in an uproar thinking and smelling upset. Up 28-7, all Louisville had to do was play the same tough defense and be smart with the ball.
For the second straight week, Head Coach Tim Ryan had to spark his troops in the locker room and see if they could make a 2nd half comeback. And that is just what the Knights would do. Savage would hit Robinsonn for an 8 yrd TD and then hit his favorite target Harrison for a 57 yard bomb to end the third quarter down only 28-21. The 4th quarter was much the same as Savage and Harrison hooked up again for a 79 yard strike to tie the game at 28. Savage would then leave the game with a bruised shoulder and DC Jefferson, once again stepped in and up with a 21 yard TD run to give the Knights a 35-28 lead. Louisville would add a 1 yrd TD from Smith to again tie the game with 1:09 to play. Rutgers would muster up one more scoring drive and TE would kick the game winning FG as tie expired from 36 yards out to lift the Knights to a 38-35 victory in Louisville.
Tim Ryan said in a pres conference " I do not know why we came out so flat and right noe I do not care. We were able to win this one and thatis all I care about, however, we cannot do the smae next week in Madison or we will not have the same result". Next week is the season finale in Madison against a Badger team that won last year in Brunswick 27-24. The Knights will have to make sure that they bring and play their A game if they want to make it 11 straight.
Game Stats
Rutgers
21 1rst Downs
552 Total yards
247 Rushing yards
305 Passing yards
4-9 44% 3rd downs
2-3 66% 4th downs
2-3 66% Red Zone trips
5 Turnovers
15:30 T.O.P.
Louisville
9 1rst downs
302 Total yards
61 Rushing yards
241 Passing yards
2-9 22% 3rd downs
0-0 0% 4th downs
2-2 100% Red Zone Trips
1 Turnover
8:30 T.O.P.
Player Stats
Passing
Rutgers
Savage 146.3 14-27 305 3 TD 5 INT
Jefferson 0.0 0-1 0
Louisville
Stein 155.6 17-29 241 3 TD 1 INT
Rushing
Rutgers
Brooks 12 carries 78 yrds 1 TD
Savage 10 carries 47 yrds
Jefferson 10 carries 100 yrds 1 TD
O'Neal 6 carries 20 yrds
Robinson 2 carries 2 yrds
Louisville
Anderson 14 carries 69 yrds 1 TD
Stein 1 carry -8 yrds
Recieving
Rutgers
Harrison 5 rec 193 yrds 2 TD
Brooks 5 rec 63 yrds
Sanu 2 rec 28 yrds
Wright 1 rec 13 yrds
Robinson 1 rec 8 yrds 1 TD
Louisville
Anderson rec 43 yrds
Smith 4 rec 86 yrds 2 TD
Beck 2 rec 25 yrds
Chichester 2 rec 17 yrds
Nixon 2 rec 44 yrds 1 TD
Fennerty 1 rec 8 yrds
Sims 1 rec 18 yrds
Brooks would start the Knights off with a 27 yard TD run. Then Savage would throw 1 of 5 interceptions in the first half and this one went back for 6 as the Cardinal tied it up at the endof the first quarter. Louisville would take the lead on an Anderson 8 yrd TD run and after 2 more pics from Savage, the Cardinal would add TD passes from Stein to Nixon and Smith. The first half ended with Papa Johns Stadium in an uproar thinking and smelling upset. Up 28-7, all Louisville had to do was play the same tough defense and be smart with the ball.
For the second straight week, Head Coach Tim Ryan had to spark his troops in the locker room and see if they could make a 2nd half comeback. And that is just what the Knights would do. Savage would hit Robinsonn for an 8 yrd TD and then hit his favorite target Harrison for a 57 yard bomb to end the third quarter down only 28-21. The 4th quarter was much the same as Savage and Harrison hooked up again for a 79 yard strike to tie the game at 28. Savage would then leave the game with a bruised shoulder and DC Jefferson, once again stepped in and up with a 21 yard TD run to give the Knights a 35-28 lead. Louisville would add a 1 yrd TD from Smith to again tie the game with 1:09 to play. Rutgers would muster up one more scoring drive and TE would kick the game winning FG as tie expired from 36 yards out to lift the Knights to a 38-35 victory in Louisville.
Tim Ryan said in a pres conference " I do not know why we came out so flat and right noe I do not care. We were able to win this one and thatis all I care about, however, we cannot do the smae next week in Madison or we will not have the same result". Next week is the season finale in Madison against a Badger team that won last year in Brunswick 27-24. The Knights will have to make sure that they bring and play their A game if they want to make it 11 straight.
Game Stats
Rutgers
21 1rst Downs
552 Total yards
247 Rushing yards
305 Passing yards
4-9 44% 3rd downs
2-3 66% 4th downs
2-3 66% Red Zone trips
5 Turnovers
15:30 T.O.P.
Louisville
9 1rst downs
302 Total yards
61 Rushing yards
241 Passing yards
2-9 22% 3rd downs
0-0 0% 4th downs
2-2 100% Red Zone Trips
1 Turnover
8:30 T.O.P.
Player Stats
Passing
Rutgers
Savage 146.3 14-27 305 3 TD 5 INT
Jefferson 0.0 0-1 0
Louisville
Stein 155.6 17-29 241 3 TD 1 INT
Rushing
Rutgers
Brooks 12 carries 78 yrds 1 TD
Savage 10 carries 47 yrds
Jefferson 10 carries 100 yrds 1 TD
O'Neal 6 carries 20 yrds
Robinson 2 carries 2 yrds
Louisville
Anderson 14 carries 69 yrds 1 TD
Stein 1 carry -8 yrds
Recieving
Rutgers
Harrison 5 rec 193 yrds 2 TD
Brooks 5 rec 63 yrds
Sanu 2 rec 28 yrds
Wright 1 rec 13 yrds
Robinson 1 rec 8 yrds 1 TD
Louisville
Anderson rec 43 yrds
Smith 4 rec 86 yrds 2 TD
Beck 2 rec 25 yrds
Chichester 2 rec 17 yrds
Nixon 2 rec 44 yrds 1 TD
Fennerty 1 rec 8 yrds
Sims 1 rec 18 yrds