Many of the key pickups for the Cardinal football team during the offseason seemed to be filled with senior Reggie Bonnafon and returning sophomore Trey Smith fighting it out for the running back position. Bonnafon had 11 carries for 48 yards and 1 touchdown. Smith added to his day playing for both teams carrying the ball 25 times netting 90 yards and adding 2 touchdowns. The secondary looked good for both teams the most outstanding player for the wideouts being Dez Fitzpatrick followed by Charles Standberry who had 5 catches for 76 yards. Looking toward the future for the Louisville Cardinals football team we had a glimpse of it today in Jawon Pass who struggled throughout the game went 14 for 30 with 162 yards the problem today was either over throwing or under throwing his receivers tossing up 4 picks with 149 yards overall on INT’s. Pass looked explosive when he took the ground having 7 rushes for 22 yards; the future looks great once this young QB develops and tries to fill the Heisman trophy winner’s shoes. Jaire Alexander stepped up big time for the Red defense and seemed to be involved in almost every play it felt like he ended the game with 7 solo tackles and a pick 6 which he took back for 87 yards.
Overall both teams looked solid, and it seems to be another good season coming for the Cardinals. What was the difference between the two teams, simply 2 words Lamar Jackson, Coach Bobby Petrino's input on the game was “I thought we evened the teams out pretty well and I still think they were pretty even, I guess there was a difference maker out there and that was Lamar.” The reigning Heisman winner for the Louisville offense came out and showed looking to put an early start on his quest for a 2nd Heisman trophy. With plenty to work on before the first game in Indianapolis against a Purdue team who is looking to start out their season by taking down the number 13 team in the nation. With the rest of the team gathering around their leader Lamar Jackson the 2017 Louisville Cardinals look to make a march for their first ACC title and their first College Football Playoff.