CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — For a third straight week Louisville found itself in a one-score game. This time, the Cardinals found a way to win it when Tyler Shough hit a wide-open Jamari Johnson for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:55 to play to snap a two-game slide with a 24-20 win over Virginia at Scott Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Isaac Brown racked up 146 yards and two touchdowns, and Alabama transfer Ja’Corey Brooks had 83 yards on five catches for the Cardinals.
Virginia's Anthony Colandrea threw for 279 yards and a go-ahead touchdown with 10:03 left to play, and also ran for a season-high 84 yards. Wide receiver Malachi Fields caught nine passes for 129 yards.
Virginia, which scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth quarter of last weekend’s win over Boston College, sought its first three-game winning streak and first back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference home victories of the Tony Elliott era and its defense came up with a pair of huge plays on Louisville’s first possession in the final quarter. With the Cardinals in the red zone, defensive end Chico Bennett raced off the edge to haul down Brown for a 2-yard loss on second down. On third down linebacker Kam Robinson sacked Shough to force a 41-yard field goal try, which Louisville’s Brock Travelstead missed, keeping the Cavaliers within striking distance, down 17-13.
On the ensuing drive, with Louisville bringing pressure on a second-down play near midfield, Colandrea stood in and delivered a pass in the flat to Xavier Brown, who took off up the Cardinals’ sideline, breaking one tackle on his way to a 46-yard go-ahead touchdown.
But, this time, Shough and Louisville had an answer, driving 67 yards in 11 plays for the game-winning score.
Louisville: The Cardinals picked up a crucial victory after the back-to-back losses to Notre Dame and SMU. Their high-powered passing game was largely held in check, and Louisville matched its lowest point total of the season, but it came through in the end.
Virginia: The Cavaliers, who had won just three games in each of the past two seasons, came within minutes of getting within a fifth win in six starts. They now face a daunting second half of their schedule, starting with a trip to Elliott’s former team, Clemson, next weekend.
Louisville: Hosts No. 6 Miami Saturday.
Virginia: Visits No. 10 Clemson Saturday.
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