Kentucky Wildcats vs Louisville Cardinals Box Score on Nov 26, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 26, 2016

Austin McGinnis kicked a 47-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to lift Kentucky to a 41-38 upset of No. 11 Louisville on Saturday at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

The victory snapped a five-game Kentucky losing streak in the annual Governor's Cup rivalry game.

Louisville (9-3) seemed ready to put the game away when it reached the Kentucky 9-yard-line, but quarterback Lamar Jackson's fumble was recovered by Kentucky's Courtney Love with 1:45 left.

It took Kentucky (7-5) only three plays to get to the Louisville 36-yard line, and set up for the game-winning field goal.

The Cardinals struck first with a precious five-play, 84-yard touchdown drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown run from quarterback Lamar Jackson. He broke the ACC single-season record for touchdowns accounted for with 48 on the play.

Kentucky hit back with a one-play, 75-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Stephen Johnson to receiver Garrett Johnson. The Wildcats held Louisville's prolific offense to punts on the next two drives, and pushed ahead 14-7 with a seven-play, 86-yard touchdown drive capped by a 36-yard run from Stanley "Boom" Williams.

Louisville evened the score on the next drive, a grinding 12-play drive that ended with a 18-yard touchdown throw from Jackson to Reggie Bonnafon on the first play of the second quarter.

The Cardinals went ahead on their next drive.

After forcing Kentucky to punt, Louisville drove down the field and had the ball at 3-yard-line, but was stuffed for a two-yard loss. The Cardinals settled for a field goal by Blanton Creque to take a 17-14 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, Louisville got a big boost when Stephen Johnson's pass bounced off of Garrett Johnson and into the hands of Tru Washington, who returned it 18 yards to the Kentucky 48.

Louisville scored on a nifty pitch from Jackson to tight end Cole Hikutini. He rumbled 24 yards for a touchdown to put Louisville ahead 24-14.

Kentucky responded in a big way. A pass interference play extended a drive deep in Kentucky territory and Stephen Johnson hit Garrett Johnson for a 63-yard touchdown. Johnson was wide open after Washington, the defensive back covering him, went down with a cramp at the 25.

Down 24-21 at the half, Kentucky pushed ahead 28-24 on an 18-yard touchdown run by Benny Snell, capping a nine-play, 75-yard drive.

But Louisville struck back in a hurry to take a 31-28 lead. Jackson ran 61 yards on the first play of the drive and Louisville regained the lead five plays later on a three-yard touchdown run by Jeremy Smith.

A 35-yard Austin McGinnis field goal tied the score 31-31, and Kentucky pushed ahead 38-31 on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Dorian Baker on third down from the Louisville 35 yard line.

Louisville drove right back down the field and had a first down on the Kentucky 16, but Jackson's pass to Cole Hikutini was tipped into the air and landed in the hands of Kentucky's Blake McClain, who sprinted out of the end zone to the 8.

The Cardinals forced a punt and Louisville got the ball back at the Louisville 45 with 9:32 left. Jackson rushed for 33 yards on the first play to the Kentucky 22.

Jackson leaped into the end zone four plays later from the one yard line to make it 38-38.

Kentucky got the ball with 7:44 left and got a big lift on a 15-yard roughing the passer call on an incomplete pass. A 16-yard run by Johnson gave Kentucky a first down at the Louisville 44, but Louisville defensive lineman Chris Williams took the ball away from running back Benny Snell two plays later with 5:42 left.

But the Cardinals could not hold on.

GAME NOTES: Louisville had won nine straight games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. ... Lamar Jackson set an ACC record for touchdowns accounted for with his first touchdown Saturday, his 48th of the season. ... Jackson broke Louisville's single-season rushing record. Howard Stevens held the previous record of 1,429 yards since 1971. ... Kentucky came into the game bowl eligible for the first time since 2010. .... Louisville had five straight wins against its rival before Saturday's Kentucky victory.