Louisville 31, West Virginia 38
Morgantown, WV (Sports Network) - Pat White broke off a 50-yard touchdown run with 1:36 remaining, allowing sixth-ranked West Virginia to escape with a 38-31 win over Louisville in a classic at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The Cardinals trailed by 17 late in the third quarter, but stormed back to tie the game thanks to some sloppy play on West Virginia's end.
The Mountaineers salvaged the all-important Big East win, though, when White got loose and sprinted into the end zone with time winding down.
Louisville had a chance to tie it, but ran out of time after several short passes underneath on its final drive.
White ended with 181 yards and two touchdowns through the air and an additional 147 yards on the ground for the Mountaineers (8-1, 3-1 Big East), who have won four in a row since their loss to South Florida. Darius Reynaud had six receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns, while Steve Slaton rushed for 60 yards and a score.
Brian Brohm ended 27-of-46 for 345 yards with a pair of touchdowns and interceptions for Louisville (5-5, 2-3), which was coming off a win over Pittsburgh. George Stripling had eight receptions for 105 yards in a losing effort.
The majority of the third quarter belonged to the Mountaineers.
Pat McAfee extended the lead to 10 with a 28-yard field goal, and the defense came up with a big play later in the quarter. John Holmes came free on a blitz and drilled
Brian Brohm, jarring the ball loose. Eric Wicks recovered and rumbled 44 yards for the score to make it 31-14.
Louisville came charging back, starting with a two-yard TD run by Brock Bolen with 56 ticks remaining in the third. The Cardinals made more headway early in the fourth, pulling to within three with 10:32 left on a 12-yard pass from Brian Brohm to Mario Urrutia.
A highlight-reel interception about four minutes later seemed to put the momentum back on the Mountaineer side, but it was short-lived. One play after Brian Brohm's deep toss was tipped and then intercepted by a sprawling Wicks, White turned the ball over after a modest gain. Louisville moved the ball into West Virginia territory, and knotted the contest at 31-31 on a 37-yard Art Carmody field goal with 3:05 on the clock to set up the dramatic finish.
West Virginia opened the scoring with 3:18 remaining in the first quarter, as White and Reynaud connected for a seven-yard TD strike.
The Mountaineers came up with a key fumble recovery on Louisville's ensuing possession, leading to seven more points. With starting field position on the Cardinals' 25-yard line, White made quick work of the Louisville defense and found Reynaud in the end zone for a second time -- this one from nine yards out -- to up the advantage to 14-0.
The Cardinals struck back early in the second quarter when Brian Brohm found Gary Barnidge for a 16-yard touchdown toss.
West Virginia answered by marching 12 plays on the following drive, capped by Steve Slaton's one-yard run to pay dirt.
A 44-yard pitch-and-catch from Brian Brohm to Stripling moments later, though, set up a one- yard plunge by Brian Brohm to pull the Cardinals within seven at 21-14 right before halftime.
Game Notes
Harry Douglas had seven catches for 98 yards for Louisville...West Virginia, known for its rushing prowess, outgained the Cardinals 216 to 37 on the ground...Louisville won the last installment of this series, 44-34.
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