Louisville plows over Florida State 48-16

A week after allowing just 7 points in the first half of an upset win last week, Louisville creamed Florida State’s defense for 395 yards and 31 points in the first half of a dominant 48-16 victory Saturday.

Entering the game at 1-4, the Cardinals (2-4, 1-4 ACC) put together easily their best outing of 2020. Quarterback Malik Cunningham carved up FSU (2-3, 1-4 ACC) for 278 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 of 24 passes. A balanced offensive attack saw Louisville also rack up over 8 yards a carry on the ground for the game.

After surrendering a wild 15-yard run score from Jordan Travis on the opening drive, Louisville essentially played a perfect game the remainder of the first quarter. Florida State’s defense allowed touchdown drives on the Cardinals first four possessions.

First quarter scoring drives of 77, 70, 94, and 68 yards sunk the Noles’ chances Saturday afternoon at Cardinal Stadium. FSU responded with a lengthy 16-play drive to cut it to 28-14 when Travis hit redshirt junior wideout Ontaria Wilson for a touchdown.

The momentum didn’t last when Louisville answered with a lengthy drive of their own to grab a field goal to go up 17. Florida State’s Ja’Khi Douglas took the kickoff back 28 yards and a personal foul penalty set up FSU on Louisville’s 48-yard-line, but FSU failed to score heading into the half.

A sophomore from nearby Titusville, Florida, Jordan Hawkins extended UL’s lead with his third touchdown of the afternoon, a 10-yard plunge on the Cardinal’s second drive coming out of the half. Hawkins ran 16 times for 174 yards and the three crucial scores.

After going three-and-out on their first possession of the second half, FSU drove the length of the field midway through the third quarter. Travis was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line.

Louisville failed to bring it out from the shadow of their goal-line, surrounding a safety to FSU. Still only down three scores with plenty of time left, Louisville picked off Travis on the Seminoles’ next possession.

Satterfield’s crew put the game away with another long drive, this time grabbing a field goal to make it 41-16.

It was an anticlimactic fourth quarter, but true freshman quarterback Chubba Purdy saw his first game action in mop-up duty.