Clemson sinks claws into Louisville football season

A group of unfamiliar foes stumbled into Cardinal stadium Saturday. They were tigers. These were not the same tigers Louisville fans typically witness wandering around a football field. These tigers were wounded, and looking to find any scraps left from what has been a mediocre season compared to Clemson’s recent success.

A packed house saw the Louisville Cardinals fight hard for sixty minutes against Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers, only to come up short for the second week in a row losing 30-24.

Louisville shows they are a team that can string an entire game together

The Cards performance Saturday night, on both sides of the ball, is absolutely something to rave about! The offense had the edge in total yards against the Tigers 397-345. Malik Cunningham had his arsenal of skills on full display by rushing for 134 on 22 carries. The passing game was clicking as well downfield for a number of chunk plays to open receivers like Tyler Harrell and Jordan Watkins.

The defense had one takeaway, but made big plays late in the game that kept the Cards in it, just like they did against UCF earlier this season. One of those sequences included a 4th and goal stop, near the end of the third quarter, which kept the party going up and down the Louisville sideline. This play was crucial because fans saw what transpired at the end of the NC State game

“Crunch time ” Cards

The sophomore DJ Uiagalelei has seen his opportunities to come up big for the past two seasons, yet he has failed in most cases to grasp those moments by the hairs. Unfortunately, Louisville had to end up on the dark side of his shine. With just under 4 minutes to go, Uiagalelei dashed into the end zone putting the Tigers up 27-24 and ahead for good.

Louisville made a valiant effort at the end when Malik Cunningham found Tyler Harrell on a 45-yard bomb that helped the Cards drive down and to just a 1st and goal to go. I have to admit that running the ball consecutively against a Brent Venables defensive front probably isn’t most creative play-calling perspective. The Cards were stopped four times in a row and watched their bowl hopes slip further into oblivion.

However, there is still a glimmer of hope! Louisville’s remaining games are against Syracuse, Duke, and Kentucky. Syracuse can score some points, but that defense will give em’ up like Wendy’s free frosty coupons. Duke is absolutely beatable if you watched them play Charlotte at the beginning of the season. Lastly, the Cards rival, Kentucky, is suffering another late season slump. I smell hope. Can you?