Kai De La Cruz, getting the start in place of the injured DeVonte Parker, hauled in a pass from Teddy Bridgewater for a 34-yard touchdown early in the second quarter, building Louisville’s lead to 10-0. The Cardinals would extend the lead to 17-0, looking to be in firm control over Rutgers going in to the half. Instead, Rutgers got on the scoreboard late in the first half and Louisville leads the Scarlet Knights 17-7.
Bridgewater is certainly the big draw Thursday night. NFL scouts from over 20 teams are attending the game, likely to catch a glimpse of the Cardinals star quarterback. He has not disappointed thus far, completing 10 of 14 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, although he has been picked off once. Bridgewater is not really known to be a running quarterback, but he has rushed three times for 19 yards as well. He rushed for 20 yards all of last season.
Rutgers finally found something o work with on offense, although with the help of a tipped pass that fell in the right hands. On third and seven, Gary Nova dropped back to pass but had his pass tipped over the middle of the field. The football fell in to the hands of Tyler Kroft for a first down. Later in the drive, on a fourth and three, Rutgers faked a field goal attempt, catching Louisville off guard. J.T. Tartacoff caught the Cardinals slow to react and lobbed a pas over the middle down to the one-yard line following a 26-yard completion to Kroft. Kroft would haul in a wide open pass from Nova on the next play near the back of the end zone.
This is Louisville’s chance to shine. If the Cardinals are going to remain, or enter, the national championship discussion, they could benefit from a big win tonight against Rutgers. The eighth ranked Cardinals have the eyes of the college football world on them tonight, playing on national television with little college football competition but in the shadows of an NFL game and a baseball postseason game.