LOUISVILLE — If there’s a standard-bearer for the tattered, battered Big East Conference this season, it’s No. 25 Louisville. Based on Sunday’s season opener against Kentucky, the Cardinals seem capable of carrying that flag.
Jeremy Wright scored three touchdowns, and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater picked the Wildcats’ defense apart as Louisville ripped its in-state rival 32-14 in front of a Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium-record crowd of 55,386.
Wright rushed for 105 yards on 22 carries for the Cards, while Bridgewater hit on 19 of 21 passes for 232 yards before sitting out the last quarter and a half as backup Will Stein finished up. Louisville compiled 466 total yards and 26 first downs.
Bridgewater set the tone on his first pass, a 23-yard dart to a well-covered Damian Copeland on 3rd-and-9 from the Cards’ 2-year line that kick-started a 15-play, 99-yard scoring drive. Wright extended the march with a 5-yard run on 4th-and-2 at the Wildcats’ 6 and plunged in on the next play to conclude an 8-minute, 21-second drive.
“It gave the guys on the team a lot of confidence,” Bridgewater said. “We practice game-like situations, so today was just like practice.”
That was followed by touchdown marches of 85 and 93 yards on which Louisville continued its run-pass mix.
The Cards’ experienced offensive line, led by Rimington Trophy nominee Mario Benavides at center, consistently blew open gaping holes in the Wildcats’ front seven.
It was evident on Senorise Perry’s 47-yard scoring run with 11:03 left in the first half, when he bounced off a pile at the line of scrimmage, found open space around right tackle and sped untouched to the end zone. Perry ended with 108 yards on 16 tries.
“The run game all started back in the spring,” Bridgewater said. “Those guys run behind our offensive line, and they put the team on their backs. The offensive line did a great job of protecting me. They allowed me to stand back there, avoid sacks and deliver the ball.”
“We got it done today because of execution,” Wright said.
Kentucky’s offense showed spark at times behind sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith, who hit 35 of 50 passes for 280 yards and a pair of touchdowns. But the Wildcats simply didn’t have enough possession time, keeping the ball for less than 24 minutes.
Kentucky could have made the game closer, but failed to convert on four possessions that ended inside Louisville’s 25. Raymond Sanders fumbled at the 22 following a 17-yard run late in the first half. Kentucky then recovered an onsides kick to start the second half, but Craig McIntosh pushed a 42-yard field goal wide right.
At 11:44 in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats drove to the Louisville 5-yard line, but CoShik Williams coughed the ball up on a run up the middle, and Adrian Bushell recovered for Louisville at the 3.
The Wildcats’ next possession ended at the Cards’ 12.
“When you go 2-for-6 in the red zone – and for us, the red zone is any time we get inside the 25 – that’s pretty much the ball game,” Kentucky coach Joker Phillips said. “In a big game like this, you have to do a better job taking advantage of your opportunities.”
Phillips pointed to Louisville’s huge advantage in the running game as a factor.
“You look at the stat sheet and see they rushed 46 times for over 200 yards and that we rushed 19 times for under 100 yards,” he said. “I believe that the team which runs the ball more usually wins the game.”
On Sunday, that team was Louisville.
“It was something to see our offense come out and execute the way they did,” Louisville coach Charlie Strong said. “To have two running backs rush the ball for over 100 yards, I have to give credit to our offensive line.”
NOTES: Kentucky lost its season opener for the first time since 2007 … Phillips and Strong worked under Lou Holtz at South Carolina in 2002. Phillips oversaw wide receivers and Strong was the defensive coordinator … Cardinals tight end Nate Nord, who caught three passes, is the nephew of Kentucky assistant coach Greg Nord.