Louisville Cardinals vs Cincinnati Bearcats Match Player Stats On Dec 05, 2013

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Dec 5, 2013

Louisville 31, No. 23 Cincinnati 24 (OT): Dominique Brown scored on a 2-yard run on the first possession of overtime and the visiting Cardinals edged the Bearcats in the Battle for the Keg of Nails rivalry game.

Teddy Bridgewater was 23-of-37 for 255 yards with three touchdown passes for Louisville (11-1, 7-1 American Athletic Conference), which beat Cincinnati in overtime for the second straight season. DeVante Parker had nine catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and Senorise Perry rushed for 81 yards.

Brendon Kay completed 22-of-40 passes for 304 yards and rushed for two touchdowns to lead Cincinnati (9-3, 6-2), which lost at home for the first time this season and saw its slim BCS hopes come to an end. The Bearcats forced the extra period on Tony Miliano’s 26-yard field goal with seven seconds left in regulation.

Bridgewater threw a 36-yard pass to Parker on the Cardinals’ opening drive and the Cardinals led 10-0 before Cincinnati got on the board with Kay’s 1-yard touchdown run just before the half. Kay’s 2-yard TD run midway through the third quarter put the Bearcats ahead 14-10 and set the stage for a wild fourth quarter.

Damian Copeland caught a 22-yard touchdown pass to give Louisville a 17-14 lead with 8:08 remaining before the Bearcats answered with a 2-play, 72-yard drive capped by Ralph Abernathy’s 15-yard TD run. Louisville regained the lead on Bridgewater’s 4-yard pass to Parker with 2:26 left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati RG Sam Longo was taken off on a cart at the end of the third quarter with an apparent left leg injury. … Central Florida earned the AAC’s automatic BCS bid with the Louisville victory. Cincinnati, which lost for the second time in its last 17 home games, needed to beat Louisville and have Central Florida lose to Southern Methodist on Saturday to keep its BCS hopes alive. … The teams finished near even in most statistical categories, with Louisville gaining 432 total yards to Cincinnati’s 428.