Louisville Runs Over Boston College in ACC Home Opener
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Returning to L&N Stadium for their first home ACC game of the season, the Louisville football program continued their undefeated start under first year head coach Jeff Brohm with authority, blasting Boston College to the tune of 56-28 on Saturday.
The Cardinals (4-0, 2-0 ACC) match their longest win streak to open up a season since also claiming their first four games of the 2016 season. The victory over the Eagles (1-3, 0-2 ACC) also marked the first time since that 2016 campaign that Louisville has opened up ACC play at 2-0, and only the second time since joining the conference in 2014.
Quarterback Jack Plummer, facing a secondary that ranked No. 26 nationally in passing yards allowed, had arguably the best outing of his collegiate career. He went 18-for-21 for 388 yards and a career-best five touchdowns, ran for another touchdown, and helped Louisville put up 585 yards of total offense.
Two of his touchdown passes were hauled in by wide receiver Ahmari Huggins-Bruce, who led all receivers with 110 yards on three catches. Wideout Jamari Thrash finished with five catches for 71 yards and a score, while tight end Nate Kurisky logged a one-yard score on his first career catch.
Running back Jawhar Jordan turned in another stellar performance as well. He collected 246 all-purpose yards after rushing 18 times for 134 yards and two touchdowns, hauling in a 75-yard touchdown pass and tallying a 40-yard kickoff return.
On the other side of the line of scrimmage, Louisville was hit-or-miss defensively, allowing Boston College to put up 427 total yards. QB Thomas Castellanos, who nearly helped the Eagles upset Florida State last weekend, went 17-of-33 for 265 yards and three touchdowns, along with 10 rushes for 49 yards and a score.
Linebacker Jaylin Alderman led the defense with a game-best eight tackles and one of the Cardinals' three sacks, while defensive end Ashton Gillotte had the other two sacks. Defensive backs Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Quincy Riley and Devin Neal all logged a pair of pass break ups as well.
Offensively, Louisville put their foot on the gas early and didn't let up, scoring touchdowns on all six of their first half drives. Kurisky, Huggins Bruce and Thrash had one-, 45- and 42-yard touchdowns receptions from Plummer, respectively, while Plummer himself also collected a nine-yard rushing score. Meanwhile, Jordan collected 33- and 2-yard rushing scores.
Louisville's 42 points at halftime marked the most points scored in the first half by the Cardinals since putting up 44 against NC State back on Oct. 22, 2016. Their 374 yards in the first half was also the most since putting up 418 before halftime at Duke on Nov. 18, 2021
Defensively, Louisville also got off to a hot start, but did let up some right before halftime. Boston College had a turnover on downs right out of the gates, then punted away on their next three drives, but were able to score on their last two drives of the half. Castellanos got the Eagles' goose egg off the scoreboard with a 39-yard keeper, then he found Ryan O'Keefe for a 30-yard score a drive later.
Louisville eventually shifted into cruise control once the game got out of hand, but not before setting off a couple more fireworks after halftime. The Cardinals had a pair of one-play scoring drives in the third quarter, with Jordan scoring on a 75-yard screen pass and Huggins-Bruce hauling in a 55-yard deep bomb.
Like in the first half, Louisville was hit-or-miss defensively. While the Cardinals did force a three-and-out and two turnovers on downs, they also allowed two more touchdowns to Boston College. On both Eagles scoring drives, Lewis Bond found the endzone from Castellanos, hauling in 22- and 11-yard scores.
Next up, Louisville will head back on the road for their first true road ACC matchup against NC State. Kickoff against the Wolfpack is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
(Photo of Jack Plummer: Jamie Rhodes - USA TODAY Sports)
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