Stout defense lifts Louisville, Petrino

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Dominique Brown's 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Gerald Christian's 10-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth backed Louisville's big defensive performance that helped beat Miami 31-13 Monday night.

The victory provided a successful Atlantic Coast Conference debut for the Cardinals and to Bobby Petrino's second coaching stint at the school.

Petrino, who coached at Arkansas from 2008-2011, sat out the 2012 season after being fired by Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long in April of that year. Long cited a pattern of manipulative and deceptive behavior in trying to cover up his relationship with a 25-year-old employee of the football program.

Petrino coached at Western Kentucky last season before being hired by Louisville.

Louisville outgained Miami 336-244 in a ragged game offensively for both teams. Louisville's new 3-4 defense came up with three takeaways, including one that followed a costly fumble by Cardinals quarterback Will Gardner inside his 15.

Louisville held Miami to a field goal after Gardner's second fumble in the third quarter, and Brown's TD provided a 21-13 cushion. Christian's scoring pass from Gardner with 1:43 remaining sealed the victory.

Corvin Lamb's 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown before halftime provided the go-ahead score for Louisville.

Gerod Holliman's interception of Hurricanes freshman Brad Kaaya and 61-yard return to Miami's 36 as time expired punctuated Louisville's defensive effort.

Brown rushed 33 times for 143 yards, both career highs. Gardner completed 20 of 28 passes for 206 yards with 2 touchdowns.

Louisville started slowly, going three-and-out on the game's first series without gaining a yard. The Cardinals settled down on their next possession to go 93 yards in 12 plays with a nice mix of running and passing that got Louisville to Miami's 2.

Gardner finished things from there with a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide-open freshman Charles Standberry.

Miami recovered to take a 10-7 lead on Kaaya's 2-yard touchdown pass to Clive Walford and Matt Goudis' 24-yard field goal. Louisville reclaimed the momentum on the ensuing kickoff as Lamb dashed up the middle almost untouched for a 97-yard touchdown and the 14-10 lead.

The sequence marked the second swing in a weird first half in which Miami recovered a fumble by Gardner at the Louisville 5 before surrounding it on the next play as Cardinals linebacker Keith Kelsey grabbed Stacy Coley's fumble of Kaaya's backwards pass and raced to the end zone for an apparent touchdown.

Officials reviewed the play and awarded Louisville the ball but ruled the play dead at the 13. Gardner again lost the ball deep in his own end early in the third quarter, but Louisville's defense held up again and limited the 'Canes to another 24-yard field goal.

Sports on 09/02/2014

Upcoming Events