However, the Cardinals were forced to go for it on fourth-and-seven and the defense held again, setting up the Tigers’ next score.
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In front of a sold out crowd at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville fell to eleventh-ranked Clemson 20-17 in another heartbreaking loss to drop the Cardinals to 0-3 on the season. Louisville returned the next kickoff for a touchdown to bring the game within three.
Deshaun Wathson provided numerous positives by throwing two touchdown passes while Wayne Gallman ran for 139 yards as the Tigers won the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both schools.
A fourth-quarter field goal gave Clemson what many on social media, given how the Cardinals’ offense had looked most of the game (272 yards of offense), a seemingly insurmountable 20-10 lead early in the period.
While it was blown coverage that yielded James Quick a long reception in the 2014 victory in Clemson, Thursday’s big play for Louisville was a 23-yard throw to freshman tight end Mickey Crum, getting the Cardinals down to Clemson’s 37-yard-line in the final minute. Sophomore quarterback Deshaun Watson added to the Tiger angst shortly thereafter as he missed a wide open receiver on third down to give the ball back to the Cardinals, after a punt, at their own 14-yard line. The Tigers came roaring back by driving to the 19 and settling for a Greg Hegel 36-yard field goal.
Between those first six possessions, the Clemson defense allowed the Louisville offense to make only 51 combined yards of forward progress.
Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, left, hands the ball off to…
Clemson’s Shaq Lawson (90), sacks Louisville’s Kyle Bolin during… “We did get an opportunity to get in the position to tie the game, and then get in position to throw one in the end zone late, but there just wasn’t enough power on offense”. For all the talk about the rotating door at quarterback for the Cardinals, Johnny Unitas, Chris Redman and Teddy Bridgewater would have a hard time operating behind the U of L offensive line. Prior to burning Tigers junior safety T.J. Green on the 55-yard reception, Smith previously beat redshirt sophomore cornerback Mackensie Alexander for what would have been another deep reception, except that Smith was unable to haul in the pass successfully. Louisville senior John Wallace pushed a 38-yard try wide left with 2:28 remaining, which ended up being the difference.
The notion that a second-year quarterback – who ever it would be – and a new offensive line could work the kind of Year 2 improvement that Petrino has seen elsewhere was incorrect.
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NOW WHAT?: The Cardinals play their third straight home game, against Samford, at 6 p.m. on September 26.
