LOUISVILLE 24, KENTUCKY 17
Sept. 17, 2011
Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, Ky.

SUMMARY
Leading a late rally, Morgan Newton overthrew La'Rod King on a fourth-down play from Louisville's 16-yard line, and the Cardinals won 24-17.

It was Kentucky's first loss in the Governor's Cup series since 2006.

Newton led a late rally, throwing a touchdown to E.J. Fields with 4:56 left in the fourth quarter to pull UK within a touchdown. The Cats' defense got a three-and-out, and Newton led the Cats down the field again before the last incompletion.

Newton finished 27-of-41 for 255 yards and two touchdowns.

Louisville freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who replaced junior Will Stein because of an injury in the first half, finished with 106 yards and two touchdowns.

JOKER SPEAKS
“It’s a backyard fight, a backyard brawl between two good football teams. Regardless of what anybody thinks, two good football teams were out there playing and it was missed opportunities. When a person in a backyard brawl drops his hands and gives you his chin, you’ve got to take it. You’ve got to take it.”

OPPOSING VIEW
“I told the team on Thursday, ‘If we go play, then we are the better team.’ Our team has to play with some confidence and once you play with confidence you start to believe. We talk about changing the culture (of the program) but it starts with them.” – Louisville coach Charlie Strong

FROM THE LOCKER ROOM
“I’m still trying to figure out exactly who we are. Last week we couldn’t throw it very well but we ran it pretty well. (Against Louisville) we didn’t run it very well but we threw it well. We have to get more consistent all the way around.” – UK offensive coordinator Randy Sanders

KEY NUMBER
1.1 - A week after rushing for 230 yards against Central Michigan the Kentucky offense was ground to a halt by Louisville. The Cats managed just 35 yards on 32 carries, an average of 1.1 yards per attempt. That number actually went up on the Cats’ final two drives from the 0.6 yards per rush it resided at through 24 attempts (14 yards). Louisville added six sacks to that as well.

TURNING POINT
It’s rare that a play in the first seven minutes of the game turns out to be one of the most important but you could certainly make the case that La’Rod King’s fumble after a long catch from Morgan Newton on the Cats’ second possession was just that. UK already led 3-0 – although not getting a touchdown after having it 1st-and-Goal from the 5-yard line didn’t help – when King took a slant pass and rumbled up field inside the Louisville 25-yard line. King was blindsided by Dexter Heyman, jarring the football loose and allowing Louisville to take the air out of Commonwealth Stadium.

DID YOU NOTICE?
What about E.J. Fields? In a mostly bleak night for Kentucky football it was the Frankfort native who offered a ray of hope, coming up with the first seven receptions of his career. While that was impressive enough, the fact that five of them went for first downs and a sixth was his first touchdown catch should at least offer a glimmer of hope that the maligned receiving corps may have finally found a second weapon.

MEDIC MINUTE
Larry Warford went down on PAT attempt with 4:56 remaining in the game. The All-SEC guard was unable to put much weight on his right leg as trainers flanked him on both sides to help him off the field. Although he returned to the game UK coach Joker Phillips said team doctors would have to re-evaluate him after the game.

FIRST QUARTER
Kentucky had an opportunity to put its foot on Louisville’s throat in the first seven minutes, but the Cardinals made two touchdown-saving tackles and held for a field goal on the first possession and then blasted La’Rod King for a fumble deep in Cardinals’ territory to thwart another potential score. The missed chances hurt even more when Louisville lobbed a 38-yard scoring pass over the UK secondary to suddenly take a 7-3 lead in a game the Cardinals could have been down two touchdowns. Total Yards: Kentucky 118; Louisville 79

SECOND QUARTER
The Kentucky offense was dead in the water until the final drive of the half, managing only seven yards of offense as Louisville’s defense took control of the line of scrimmage and the game. The Cardinals looked to have taken all the air out of the stadium with a late scoring strike to DeVante Parker but a second roughing the passer call on the Cards helped UK pull with 14-10 with 10 seconds left in the half. It was a critical touchdown for the Wildcats’ morale heading into the locker room. Total Yards: Kentucky 77; Louisville 99

THIRD QUARTER
The Wildcats’ offensive ineptitude only got worse after the break, as the Cardinals’ backed them up in field position and held the Cats to minus-4 yards. The defense held firm and forced a field goal after a Louisville fumble that Kentucky recovered was overturned on replay. UK’s only first down came, once again, courtesy of E.J. Fields, who bailed out Newton by coming back to the football on a 3rd-and-3 to make a catch. Total Yards: Kentucky minus-4; Louisville 96

FOURTH QUARTER
Despite all appearances to the contrary Kentucky played its way into a chance to send the game to overtime on its final possession, but once again a big play was thwarted by an untimely mistake. Demarco Robinson’s fumble after picking up a first down that would have set up 1st-and-goal caused a 4th-and-6 that failed, ending the game. That set off a wild celebration on the Louisville sideline as the Cardinals ended a four-game losing streak and took home the Governor’s Cup. Total Yards: Kentucky 99, Louisville 53

FINAL THOUGHT
Joker Phillips has said for years that in order for Kentucky football to reach the heights it wants to then it simply must beat Louisville along the way. So where does that leave a team that just lost to its in-state rival and now faces three daunting SEC games over the next three weeks, two of which are on the road? I’m sure Phillips will put a good face on this loss but the fact is it’s going to be very difficult for the Cats to reach a sixth-straight bowl now.

NEXT
Kentucky (2-1) returns to the field Saturday, Sept. 24 when the Florida Gators come to town for a 7 p.m. kickoff.