Friday, October 18, 2013 08:00 PM (ET)

Recap: Central Florida 38, Louisville 35

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 18, 2013


Central Florida 38, No. 6 Louisville 35: Blake Bortles connected with Jeff Godfrey on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 23 seconds remaining as the visiting Knights overcame two second-half deficits to record the first win over a Top-10 foe in school history.

After rallying from a 21-point, second-half deficit only to fall behind 35-31 with three minutes left, Central Florida (5-1, 2-0 AAC) capped an 11-play drive, 75-yard drive when Bortles found Godfrey in the back of the end zone. The Cardinals were able to reach the Central Florida 49 with five seconds remaining, but Teddy Bridgewater’s Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete as time expired.

Storm Johnson posted a personal-best 188 total yards (109 rushing, career-high 79 receiving) and two touchdowns while Bortles threw for 250 yards and two scores. Bridgewater went 29-of-38 for 341 yards and two first-half touchdowns for Louisville (6-1, 2-1).

Louisville took a 28-7 lead with 7:52 left in the third quarter, when James Quick scooped up a fumble by punter Caleb Houston and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. Johnson capped the ensuing drive with a 1-yard TD plunge and, following a fumble by the Cardinals two plays later, took a screen pass and weaved his way through the defense for a 20-yard score.

Central Florida scored its third touchdown over a 4:20 span in the third as William Stanback completed a three-play drive with a 12-yard run to knot the game at 28-28. Shawn Moffitt added a 34-yard field goal with 7:36 remaining to give the Knights their first lead, but the Cardinals benefited from a questionable fourth-down penalty and pulled ahead on Brown’s second TD run.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Central Florida’s three rushing touchdowns were two more than Louisville had surrendered over its first six contests. … The Cardinals entered the contest yielding an FBS-low 7.3 points and 229.5 total yards per game but surrendered season highs in points and yards (446). … Louisville WR Eli Rogers tied a career high with 10 receptions for 95 yards and a score.

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