Facing its first first-quarter deficit of the season, most thought it was a matter of when not if No. 5 Louisville came back on 2-5 Virginia.
While when ultimately came for the Cardinals, it sure as hell wasn’t easy getting there.
On the strength of their longest drive of the game, UVa, a nearly five touchdown underdog, took a 25-24 lead with just 1:57 remaining in the game thanks to a Kurt Benkert touchdown pass and two-point conversion. The Heisman front-runner, Lamar Jackson, would soon make short work of that lead as the quarterback tossed a pretty 29-yard touchdown pass a minute and a half later to secure a 32-25 win.
Down 10-7 at halftime, the Cardinals watched as the Cavaliers extended that lead to 17-7 halfway through the third quarter. Three straight U of L scores, however, seemed to right the listing ship as the Cardinals grabbed a 24-17 lead prior to the late fourth quarter fireworks.
For much of the game, Jackson was seemingly doing little to bolster his stiff-armed case. When the dust settled, however, the superb sophomore signal-caller had accounted for 451 yards of offense (361 passing, 90 rushing) and four passing touchdowns. This game did mark the first time that Jackson hasn’t put up a score on the ground. His last game without a touchdown rushing? Against Virginia Nov. 14 of last year.
Benkert passed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, but tossed two very costly interceptions. The Cardinals converted one of those picks into a touchdown that gave the U of L a 21-14 lead.