The Result
A huge win for UConn as they come back to beat Louisville at home 21-17 it improves them to 6-1 overall and they remain the only unbeaten team in the Big East at 2-0.
UConn was able to contain Brian Brohm, got some timely turnovers, didn’t make too many mistakes themselves and got a big win for the program on Homecoming Weekend.
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
- LOU – Brohm 2 yard td pass to Kuhn – kick good – 7-0 Louisville
2nd Quarter
- None
3rd Quarter
- CON – Taylor 74 yard punt return – kick good – 7-7
4th Quarter
- LOU – Carmody 23 yard FG – 10-7 Louisville
- LOU – Heyman 32 yard fumble return for a TD – kick good – 17-7 Louisville
- CON – Lorenzen 7 yard TD pass to Hernandez – kick good – 17-14 Louisville
- CON – Dixon 5 yard run – kick good – 21-17 UConn
Offensive Player of the Game
Running back Andre Dixon 22 carries for 115 yards and a TD. He also had 3 catches for 55 yards.
Defensive Player of the Game
Defensive back Darius Butler had an interception and then a big pass break up on 4th down that led to UConn’s go ahead TD in the 4th quarter.
Turning Point(s) of the Game
Darius Butler breaks up a fourth down pass with 6 minutes left in a 3-point game. UConn drove the field and scored with a minute and half to play to take the lead.
Offensive Notes
Tyler Lorenzen fumbled in red zone killing UConn’s first drive of the game
UConn’s second drive started at the one after a UL punt
Donald Brown gets stuffed on 4th and 1 on an awful play call in the red zone.
Bad drop by Steve Browse on 3rd and 20 that would have been good for the first down forced UConn to punt.
UConn decided because of the weather to keep the ball on the ground most of the night.
Brown fumbles at the UConn 35 and Louisville returns it for a TD
Defensive Notes
Facemask on 3rd and goal play gives Louisville first and goal
Louisville converted two consecutive 3rd and longs for a first down.
Darius Butler intercepted a pass by WR Patrick Carter on a trick play in the red zone. Scott Lutrus intercepts Brian Brohm on Louisville’s first play after the Taylor punt return TD
Brohm went to Scott Long 21 yards on 3rd and 3 in the 3rd quarter.
Julius Williams sacked Brohm in the red zone to start the 4th quarter.
Defense holds Louisville to a FG early in the 4th quarter.
Huge fourth down stop on the 4th quarter pass play by Butler.
Danny Lansanah picks off Brohm with 15 seconds left to seal the win.
Special Teams Notes
Poor punt by Desi Cullen in 1st qtr gave Louisville the ball at the UConn 38Taylor apparently called a fair catch but then ran with the ball all the way to the end zone for a TD. The call was not reviewable and the TD stood.
After the Taylor TD they gave up an 80 yard return to Richard Raglan that was called back on a penalty.
Nice hustle by Tyvon Branch after Carter touched the punt. Branch recovered it at the one but the officials missed the call and said it struck Branch and gave Louisville the ball at the 16.
Coaching Decisions
Bad play call by UConn inside the red zone on fourth down in the first quarter.
Injuries
Donald Thomas CON shoulder injury walked off field, he returned – 1st Qtr
The Officials
The entire officiating crew missing an obvious fair catch signal on the Taylor punt return. The rulebook differentiates between a valid fair catch signal and an invalid fair catch signal. Either way the ball should have been dead at the spot of the catch and the receiving team not be allowed to advance the ball. Officials missed a Louisville fumble in the third quarter they ruled the ball carrier was down when replays showed otherwise.
Officials missed a punt that struck Carter’s arm and was recovered by Branch at the 1. Officials said it hit Branch and marked the ball at the 16 and gave the ball to Louisville.
Game Notes
The game started in a torrential rain and was played in bad weather most of the night. Rentschler Field received an inch of rain between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Louisville has 3rd rated offense in the NCAA
UConn has 6th rated defense in the NCAA
Louisville didn’t have WR Mario Urrutia Larry Taylor is second all-time in Big East punt return yardage to Santana Moss.
This was the third year in a row the Louisville-UConn game was on national TV.
Best name in the game Louisville’s Peanut Whitehead.
Bill Simmons buddy, “Stoner” aka Rob Stone was the sideline reporter for the game. Now we see why Simmons is such a tool.
Louisville head coach Steve Kragthorpe was this close to getting a flag for being allover the field judge regarding the blown fair catch call.
Officials reported few problems with traffic for the game coinciding with the opening of Cabela’s.
Next Week’s Opponent
The Huskies entertain the South Florida Bulls next Saturday at Rentschler Field.
