How it happened: Louisville romps Kentucky 41-0, wins Governors Cup
Coming into the week, Louisville and Kentucky weren’t sure what kind of performance the two would have when they met for the 37th edition of the rivalry. But, coming out of the game, it’s Louisville that ends the regular season on a high note — 41-0.
It’s just the second Louisville shutout in the series and the first since 2004. This win also marks the first time the Cardinals have won back-to-back games against UK since the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
Louisville quarterback Miller Moss completed 12 of 20 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns on senior day. He also ran for his ninth touchdown of the season, a team-best on the year. Moss gutted it out, later revealing today was the first time he had run on the field since suffering an injury in practice last week. He did not play in last week’s loss at SMU, and despite being limited, finished without a turnover and had one of his best performances of the season.
It was well-documented that the Cards would be down several starters, including their top three running backs, Duke Watson, Isac Brown, and Keyjuan Brown. Leading wideout and senior Chris Bell had surgery and didn’t play, and slot weapon Caullin Lacy was limited offensively, mostly being delegated to strictly being used as a returner. He only carried it twice for 18 yards for his only touches.
However, despite the limitations in the backfield, the Cards amassed 258 rushing yards to Kentucky’s 40, and both freshman running backs Shaun Boykins and Braxton Jennings, each carried it 20+ times and for at least 100 yards. Boykins added a touchdown, while Jennings is the first walk-on in U of L history to rush for 100 yards.
Senior tight ends Jacob Stewart and Jaleel Skinner, as well as wide receiver Dacari Collins, caught touchdown passes. Stewart’s came on a 43-yard pitch and catch on a fourth and short in the first half. It was the first of the season for the San Jose State transfer.
Redshirt freshman Kentucky quarterback Cutter Boley was under duress all afternoon and completed just 14 passes for 107 yards, and also threw two interceptions to Louisville cornerback Tayon Holloway. Those were the first two interceptions of Holloway’s career. The Wildcats had just 147 total yards and averaged an astoundingly low 1.5 yards per carry.
The Cardinals were led by D’Angelo Hutchinson and TJ Quinn on the defensive side of the football, who both had a team-best 10 tackles, and as a team, Louisville got to the UK backfield for six sacks and eight tackles for loss. Quinn and Lubin tallied two sacks each in their last home game.
Louisville will await the bowl bid after the conference championships conclude next weekend.
