Two teams coming off convincing Week 1 victories will take a step up in competition Friday night when Louisville hosts James Madison.
The Cardinals defeated Eastern Kentucky 51-17 last Saturday, with coach Jeff Brohm resting his starters after halftime, when they led the FCS squad 41-7. Despite the lopsided score, Brohm focused Monday on losing the turnover battle 3-0 and committing 12 penalties and said both will be addressed in practice this week.
“When you’re in a good, tight game, if you lose the turnover battle three to zero, you’re probably not going to win the game,” he said.
Running back Isaac Brown had only six carries, but the preseason All-American garnered 126 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Miller Moss threw two interceptions but went 17-for-25 for 223 yards. He threw for a touchdown and ran for another.
Eight Cardinals caught passes from Moss, with Caullin Lacy getting four for 62 yards. Lacy also scored on a 93-yard punt return.
James Madison coach Bob Chesney said Monday that Louisville’s film showed a team without a weakness. To upset the Atlantic Coast Conference school, his players will need to have “extreme confidence” they can win.
Chesney mentioned seeing a presentation from Louisville general manager Vince Marrow recently and came away impressed.
“The ability to get the kids they need and pay the kids at extreme levels that they need to be able to pay and to be competitive within that market, it’s run like an NFL football team,” Chesney said.
The Dukes battered FCS guest Weber State 45-10 on Saturday. The James Madison offense generated 458 yards, with 313 coming on the ground. George Pettaway gained 99 yards on 10 attempts, and Wayne Knight ran seven times for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Alonza Barnett III threw for 130 yards on 14-for-22 passing while adding a passing and running score. Nine Dukes carried the ball, and eight hauled in at least one pass. Six scored.
James Madison is 2-1 against the ACC since becoming an FBS program in 2022. The Dukes won at North Carolina last season, 70-50, and at Virginia in 2023, 36-35. In 2022, the Cardinals won 34-10.