CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Louisville football is peaking at the right time.
After starting the season 2-3, the Cardinals have won five consecutive games and finished their ACC road schedule with a 3-1 record. The latest win was a slugfest, but the Cardinals escaped North Carolina with a 16-14 victory over the Tar Heels on Saturday night.
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Though Louisville’s offense has been the catalyst for many of the team’s wins, the defense came up clutch against the Heels.
“Our defense played really well tonight,” quarterback Lincoln Kienholz said. “Without them, we probably wouldn’t be in the game.”
With next week’s ACC finale against Pitt, the regular season-ending Governor’s Cup rivalry game at Kentucky and a pending bowl game left, Louisville has the chance to win 10 games for the second time under head coach Jeff Brohm and the eighth time in program history.
“I think in order to win at a high level, you have to have great defense,” Brohm said. “You have to have great quarterback play. So just really proud that we’ve been able to handle that and get better as the year has gone on. It’s helped us win games.”
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Here are three takeaways from Louisville’s win over North Carolina:
Confidence, communication key in Louisville’s defensive surge
Louisville’s bye week was more than just a time to heal injuries. It was a time to reflect and evaluate what the Cards needed to do to get better.
Louisville’s defense took that to heart and has been playing with a different kind of swagger. The unit has held its past five opponents to less than 30 points. In fact, its past two opponents have scored a combined 31 points. UNC’s 14 points were the fewest scored of the season. And the Heels’ 293 total yards of offense are the fewest the Cards have given up in ACC play. They were aggressive in getting to the quarterback, recording a season-high six sacks.
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Jabari Mack put the icing on the cake with a game-ending interception.
“JMac’s a ball hog,” defensive lineman Clev Lubin said. “JMac’s a player, so he goes in there, snatches the ball, and makes the play to seal it. You’ve got to be happy when you see guys make plays like that. Just continue to be consistent, continue to grow, and be a better unit. I think we’re doing a great job.”
Safety Koen Entringer attributes the increased level of play and, as a result, confidence in the team’s improved communication.
“The more that we’ve been able to spend time outside of the facility, practice more and gel together has helped us take our games to the next level,” he said. “I think our communication has been at the best it’s ever been. And I think that’s what’s critical to our success. We’re eliminating the big plays through communication.”
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Conservative offense nullifies some of Louisville’s explosiveness
Despite the win, Louisville’s offense was held to only one touchdown. The Cards’ 14 points were their fewest since falling to SMU last year, 38-6.
“I’m not super happy about the game personally, offensively,” Kienholz said. “I think that we could have scored way more than we really did. Shouldn’t have even been close.”
Louisville only reached the red zone four times, was 5-for-13 on third-down conversions and averaged a mere 4.7 yards per play. Despite the return of wide receiver Lawayne McCoy, one of the team’s most explosive players, the Cards’ offense looked more like a fizzling spark. Brohm admitted that the play-calling was more conservative and will be something the team tries to correct heading into its ACC finale against Pitt. The Panthers have lost four of their past five games but held three of those opponents (Florida State, Georgia Tech and North Carolina) under 300 yards of total offense.
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“Sometimes when you have a lead, you’re a little less aggressive. … You can’t play that way,” Brohm said. “You’ve got to play to win. You’ve got to play aggressive but yet be smart. So there’s just a lot of areas to improve.”
Louisville football grade vs. North Carolina: B
Louisville has enough offensive firepower to have scored at least 43 points, which is its scoring average over the previous three games. But conservatism limited the Cardinals from being as explosive as they normally are. But there’s something to be said for the defense continuing to show improvement and be the heroes for once this season. Even when facing a different quarterback unexpected after UNC signal caller Billy Edwards got knocked out of the game, the Cards’ defense came up clutch and responded well to having a more mobile quarterback in Travis Burgess.
Louisville still has yet to put together a complete performance where both sides of the ball are at their best. The Cards have three more chances to do so against Pitt, Kentucky and their future bowl game opponent.
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Reach Louisville football, women’s basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit at acubit@gannett.com and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Takeaways from Louisville football’s road win over North Carolina
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
