In this the home of United Parcel Service, there is really but one appropriate inquiry to be made in the aftermath of another slog of a Louisville victory against a significantly lesser foe.
That would
be interimly-coached Virginia Tech, 28-16.
Rhetorical as it may be, the question:
“What can Brown do for you?”
The obvious reply: Whatever it takes in another tussle closer than it oughta be.
Brown, Isaac, after U of L got the ball upon the failure of a quick opening Hokie possession.
11 yards up the middle.
52 yards off left tackle for six.
2 plays, 2 totes, 62 yards and the 7-0 lead.
Which was big if misleading, given the malaise that followed for most of the affair in Blacksburg.
Brown, Isaac finished the half with 84 carries on 9 carries. For the whole affair, he was 16/126, 7.9 ypc, before limping off with a hamstring injury of unkown severity.
Fingers crossed.
Then came Brown, Keyjuan. Whose ypc was only 7.8. Tsk, tsk, dude.
94 yards on 12 rushes.
The most important of which yardage came after the Cards had pissed away a couple of chances to seal the game, and committed two horrid penalties to start a possession with a precarious advantage at 5:57 on its own 37.
Leaving the Cards at 1st and 25 on its own 35.
Brown, Keyjuan for 20 yards.
Brown, Keyjuan for 17 yards.
Brown, Keyjuan for 4 yards.
Brown, Keyjuan for 24 yards to the endzone with 2:16 left. (Brown, Keyjuan had already rung up six earlier to push U of L ahead with 5:01 left in the 3d.)
And the exhale.
* * * * *
Louisville is not a half-pie* team.
*New Zealandish slang for “mediocre.”
They are a somewhat better than average to good but not great team, which has mostly found ways to win.
But geez they can be nothing to write home about a lot of the time, too much of the time if you ask me.
After that opening foray, which ended with Miller Moss being sacked, the Cardinals went interception, punt, blocked punt for a VT deuce, downs, halftime.
Lane Stadium is famous for that “Enter Sandman” tradition before kickoff.
U of L is the one that slumbered when it should have been crushing it on the HIIT machine. After Brown, Isaac’s opening Danny Trejo as Machete start, VT grabbed the lead at the break 16-7.
In the first half, the self sabotage lays at the feet of the players. The blocked punt. The pick. Moribundancy.
In the second, it’s on Jeff Brohm, and his vexing propensity to sling it when just moving the chains should be the focus.
Early in the 4th, 3d & 2 at Tech’s 37. Brohm has Moss sling it twenty plus yards downfield.
Incomplete.
Punt.
Next possession. 3d & 5 at Tech’s 45. Brohm has Moss fling it seventeen yards downfield.
Incomplete.
Punt.
Jeff, my man, Just Get The First Down.
* * * * *
As is more often than not the case this campaign, it was Ron English’s D that steadied the most.
Thus deserving major credit for the win. Even if there are no Browns on that side of the ball.
The Hokies were skunked after halftime.
* * * * *
Tip o’ the helmet and game ball to Caullin Lacy.
He was the recipient of Moss’s 24 yard TD strike to pull within 14-16 in the 3d.
Which is the least of the story truth be told.
He totaled 33 yards on kick off returns. Good.
He registered 53 yards on catches. Better.
He was a magnifico 106 yards on punt returns. Best.
* * * * *
Next: Louisville’s first encounter ever with ACC newbie Cal Berserkely.
— c d kaplan
