Big plays lead No. 22 Louisville past Jax State, 49-14

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WBRC) - Louisville put up over 600 yards of offense Saturday as the 22nd ranked Cardinals beat Jax State, 49-14.

The Cardinals jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter before Jax State was ever able to get on the board with both a passing and a rushing touchdown by the Gamecock’s senior quarterback, Tyler Huff.

Huff completed 17 passes for 160 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. Showing his toughness, he also rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Gamecocks were shut out in the second half as Louisville piled on an additional 21 points for the win.

Jacksonville State, now 0-2 on the season, travels to Eastern Michigan next week.

1st Quarter

Louisville received the ball first and converted two third downs on their way to a touchdown to start the game.

From the Gamecocks’ 32-yard-line, Cardinals quarterback Tyler Shough completed a 22-yard pass down the right side to set them up 10 yards from the goal line. On the very next play, Donald Chaney, Jr. ran in to put Louisville on the board.

Both teams traded punts on their next possessions.

Jacksonville State took over again with 5:21 left in the first quarter. On 3rd-and-17, quarterback Tyler Huff’s pass was intercepted by Quincy Riley at the Cardinals’ 48-yard-line.

Shough completed a 27-yard pass up the middle to Alabama transfer Ja’Corey Brooks to set the Cardinals up at the 25-yard-line.

Two plays later, Keyjuan Brown ran in a 22-yard touchdown to go up 14-0.

The Gamecocks, needing to respond, had a long pass down the right sideline overturned on their next drive. Facing 3rd-and-8 as the 1st quarter was winding down, Tyler Huff took off out of the pocket and avoided three would-be tacklers on his way to a first down at the 15-yard-line.

2nd Quarter

On the second play of the 2nd quarter, Huff found Sean Brown wide open in the left side of the endzone for an 11-yard touchdown to cut into Louisville’s lead, 14-7.

A pass interference call against the Gamecocks near the endzone set Louisville up near the red zone. A 16-yard run by Isaac Brown put the Cardinals in scoring position inside the 10.

Two plays later, Maurice Turner dove over the line for a 1-yard touchdown to add to Louisville’s lead, 21-7.

Huff showed his toughness on Jax State’s next drive, rushing the ball four times, including a 22-yard gain on 3rd down. However, on 3rd-and-5 from the 20-yard-line, his pass to Cam Vaughn his the ground, forcing a field goal attempt that sailed wide left.

Louisville’s next drive started with another Gamecocks pass interference call. Four plays later, Shough dropped a deep pass up the middle to a wide open Jaden Thompson who tacked on a few more yards before being taken down.

Two plays later, Duane Martin rushed in for a 2-yard score to push the Cardinals’ lead to 28-7.

On 2nd-and-16 from the Lousiville 25-yard-line, Huff’s pass was intercepted, but a holding call on the Cardinals gave Jax State life as the quarter ticked away. On the very next play, Huff ran right up the middle for a 15-yard score.

The extra-point attempt was blocked, but another Louisville penalty gave Garrison Rippa another chance to make the try and cut into Louisville’s lead, 28-14.

Louisville sent Brock Travelstead out for a 60-yard field goal attempt as time expired, but the try was just shy of the cross bar, sending the game to halftime.

3rd Quarter

Jacksonville State’s opening drive of the second half came to an end when Tramel Logan sacked Huff on 3rd down.

It would seem as if the Gamecocks, likewise, had Lousiville stopped when Isaac Brown was stopped short on 3rd down, but coonverted 4th down with a short pass to Duane Martin.

On the next play, Shough found Chris Bell, Jr. running down the sideline who strolled in for a 48-yard touchdown to push the Cardinals’ lead to 35-14.

After forcing the Gamecocks to punt, Shough completed passes for 24 and 29 yards before Louisville’s drive stalled at the 11-yard-line. Travelstead’s 28-yard attempt went wide right.

4th Quarter

The Gamecocks were forced to punt in the opening moments of the fourth quarter, giving Louisville possession and a chance to start milking clock.

A holding penalty on 3rd down put Louisville behind the chains at 3rd-and-11. Shough dropped a 51-yard bomb into double coverage to Cataurus Hicks. A 13-yard pass to Ja’Corey Brooks two plays later put the Cardinals at the 7-yard-line.

After a loss on 1st down, Shough completed a short pass pass to Mark Redman who ran the rest of the way for a 12-yard score to make it 42-14.

After converting a 1st down, Jax State was forced to punt with less than six minutes left in the game.

Louisville took over looking to run out the clock, but instead found more points when Duke Watson sprinted 40 yards down the field for a touchdown to go up 49-14.

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