Villanova at Louisville

Villanova at Louisville

This is Missed It. Villanova at Louisville, Friday, September 11, 79 and clear at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, with the Cardinals. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

It's a beautiful day for football, Cardinals fans. The Villanova Wildcats are in town, and we've got the ball first. Louisville is looking to make a statement, and there's nothing better than opening up with the offense on the field. The crowd is buzzing, the energy is electric, and we're ready to see what this team can do. Let's get this one started.

The Sequence

We start this game with the ball, and we're moving. Nine plays, and we're already on the board. A field goal, three points, and we're up three to nothing. That's how you open a game. The offense is clicking, the line is holding, and we've got the early lead. Then Villanova answers. Fourteen plays, they chew up the clock, and they tie it up at three apiece. They're not going away quietly, but neither are we. We've seen what this offense can do, and we're just getting warmed up. And then it happens. The play that changes everything. Kienholz, in the shotgun, takes the snap and he's off. He rushes up the middle, breaks through the line, and he's gone. Nineteen yards to the end zone. Touchdown, Louisville. The crowd erupts. We're up ten to three, and the momentum is ours. Villanova gets the ball back, but they can't do anything with it. Five plays, and they're punting it right back to us. We've got the ball, we've got the momentum, and we're looking to strike again. Five plays. That's all it takes. Kienholz drops back, scans the field, and fires it deep to Skinner. Caught at the 32, and he's off to the races. Sixty-nine yards to the house. Touchdown, Louisville. The place is going crazy. We're up seventeen to three, and Villanova is reeling. But they're not done. They get the ball back, and they're desperate. Three plays, and then McQuaide drops back and launches one deep to Mace. Caught at the 41, and he's gone. Sixty-five yards for the score. Just like that, it's seventeen to ten. They answered, but we've got the lead, and we've got the ball coming out of the quarter. This game is ours for the taking.

Q2

We start the second quarter with the ball, and we're not messing around. Three plays. That's all it takes. Kienholz drops back, sets his feet, and throws a strike deep down the right side to McCoy. Caught at the 27, and he's in. Sixty-one yards for the touchdown. We're up twenty-four to ten, and Villanova has no answer for this passing attack. They get the ball back, and they try to answer. Eight plays, they move the ball, but our defense holds. Fourth down, and they can't convert. Turnover on downs. We've got the ball back, and we're looking to put this game away. We get a little momentum swing here. Brown rushes up the middle for three yards, and there's a flag. But it's declined. Illegal formation on us, but they're waving it off. We'll take it. We're still driving. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're trying to stay in this thing. Mace rushes up the middle for four yards, and then the flag comes in. Unsportsmanlike conduct on Beasley. Fifteen yards. That's a killer. It moves them to midfield, and they've got new life. But our defense is resilient. They hold, and Villanova has to punt. Now it's our turn. Eleven plays. We're grinding it out, moving the chains, and eating the clock. And then Kienholz keeps it himself. He rushes up the middle, breaks a tackle, and he's in. Four yards for the touchdown. We're up thirty-one to ten, and this game is slipping away from Villanova. They get the ball back, but they're done. Six plays, and they're punting. We've got the ball with almost no time left. Three plays, and then it happens. A turnover. We give it right back. But it doesn't matter. The half is over, and we're up by twenty-one. This is our game.

Q3

We're back for the second half, and Villanova has the ball. They're trying to find some life, but our defense is swarming. Five plays, and they're punting. We've got the ball, and we're looking to add to the lead. Four plays, and we're punting too. Not the start we wanted, but we'll take it. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're trying to get something going. But then the flag comes in. Delay of game. Five yards. It pushes them back, and they can't recover. Fourth down, and they're going for it. They can't convert. Turnover on downs. We've got the ball, and we're in business. Four plays. That's all it takes. Jennings takes the handoff, bounces it outside, and he's gone. Fifteen yards for the touchdown. We're up thirty-eight to ten, and this game is over. The only question now is how much more we're going to score. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're not quitting. Sixteen plays. They're moving the ball, and they're eating the clock. McQuaide completes a deep pass to Reed, twenty-two yards, and they're in our territory. Then another flag. Pass interference on Mack. Fifteen yards. They're knocking on the door. But our defense bends, and it doesn't break. They hold them to a field goal. Thirteen to thirty-eight. They're still fighting, but they're running out of time. We get the ball back, and we're not done. Nine plays. Davis takes the handoff, rushes up the middle, and he's in. Three yards for the touchdown. We're up forty-five to thirteen, and the rout is on. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're desperate. Three plays, and then it happens. A turnover. We've got the ball, and we're looking to add even more. This is a statement game, and we're making it.

Q4

We start the fourth quarter with the ball, and we're not letting up. Five plays. Wydner drops back, and he finds Jennings in the flat. Two yards, and he's in. Touchdown, Louisville. We're up fifty-two to thirteen, and this is a blowout. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're just trying to get through this. DiLucia completes a pass to Stephens, nine yards, and they've got a first down. But that's all they get. Eight plays, and they're turning it over on downs. We've got the ball, and we're looking to run the clock. And then Davis breaks one. He rushes up the middle, finds a seam, and he's gone. Thirty-nine yards to the 26. He's out of bounds, but he's set us up perfectly. And then he finishes it. Four yards for the touchdown. We're up fifty-nine to thirteen, and this is a complete domination. Villanova gets the ball back, and they're just trying to get out of here. Way Jr. rushes left for no gain. They're not moving the ball. Eight plays, and they're punting. We've got the ball, and we're just running out the clock. Six plays, and that's it. The game is over. We've won, fifty-nine to thirteen. This is a statement. This is a message. This is Louisville football.

Wrap-up

What a game, Cardinals fans. Fifty-nine to thirteen. We came out, we set the tone, and we never looked back. The offense was explosive, the defense was relentless, and we showed everyone what this team is capable of. This is a win to build on. This is a win to be proud of. We're Louisville, and we're just getting started. Go Cards.

By the Numbers

The Cardinals by the numbers. Final score, Louisville 59, Villanova 13. 635 yards of offense to their 253, 375 through the air and 260 on the ground. 29 first downs. 5 of 8 on third down. 0 turnovers for us, 1 for them. We held the ball for just over 29 minutes.

Outro

That was Villanova at Louisville, from the Cardinals side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.