BOSTON, Mass. – The University of Louisville football team will hold on to the Keg of Nails after a 24-7 victory against long-time rivals, Cincinnati in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. The Cardinals finish the 2022 season 8-5 overall.
The Cardinals extend their win streak to three in the Keg of Nails rivalry, which was most recently played in 2013 before Louisville joined the ACC.
Jawhar Jordan was named the Fenway Bowl Offensive MVP and Monty Montgomery was named the Defensive MVP.
The defense had another stellar performance, with Monty Montgomery and Yasir Abdullah leading the team in tackles and sacks. Montgomery recorded eight total tackles and one sack and Abdullah recorded 1.5 tackles for loss, moving up to second on Louisville's career list for tackles for loss (43 total). Yaya Diaby had a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Cards ended with seven sacks, bringing their season total to 50 sacks. This matches the school record for sacks in a single season, set by the 2000 Louisville team.
With his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season, Jawhar Jordan scored the first points of the game with a 49-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
Jordan recorded his second rushing touchdown before the half with a 41-yard run that put the Cardinals up by 14 points. He is the fourth Louisville player to have multiple rushing touchdowns in a bowl game.
Maurice Turner added a career-high 160 rushing yards for the Cardinals, marking the first time that two players have rushed for at least 100 yards in a Louisville bowl game and the second time this season. Turner is the eighth Louisville true freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game.
Brock Domann started at quarterback for the Cardinals, throwing for 92 yards and one touchdown on 10-of-18 passing. Domann moves to 3-1 as a starter for the Cardinals this year.
James Turner was a perfect 3-for-3 on points after touchdown and connected on a 48-yard field goal, the longest in Louisville bowl history. His field goal marked the 20th made this year and the second most in a season at Louisville.
Interim Head Coach Deion Branch Said:
"The game didn't start the way that we anticipated. Offensively, we had some struggles early on. The defense held us in, doing the normal deal that they've been doing all season. The bright spot we did have in first half was the rushing yards and we controlled the line of scrimmage. I think that was the most important part about the game. I mentioned to the guys that this game will be won or lost on the frontline, the offensive and defensive line. And that's exactly what happened. Second half we came out and it wasn't the second half I thought we would play. There were only three points scored but we didn't allow anything on their behalf. I take that with a grain of salt. But, overall great performance by our team. Great job establishing the line of scrimmage in the run game. We didn't throw the ball as well as I thought we could of, being that there was a lot of man coverage. Overall, I thought it was a decent game plan and Coach (Josh) Stepp and the offensive staff did a great job the entire week game planning. And clearly we know what Coach (Mark) Ivey and the defensive staff has done all season. Pretty much what it has been all year and I think these guys are looking forward to next season."
How It Happened:
First Quarter
00:21 – UL | On the first play following a Louisville fumble recovery, Jawhar Jordan rumbled 49 yards untouched for the opening score of the game.
Second Quarter
10:58 – UC | Evan Prater found Wyatt Fischer for a 20-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. Cincinnati's drive went nine plays and 73 yards in 4:23.
05:52 – UL | Brock Domann hit a wide open Marshon Ford from eight yards out to put the Cards back in front. Louisville marched 66 yards in 10 plays and took 4:55 off the clock.
00:42 – UL | Jawhar Jordan got free again down the right sideline, this time for a 41-yard touchdown to extend the lead to two scores just before halftime. The touchdown finished off a 7-play, 74-yard drive.
Third Quarter
03:49 – UL | James Turner drilled a 48-yard field to stretch the lead out to 24-7 late in the third quarter. The field goal finished off a 14-play drive that ran 6:21 off the clock.
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