FINAL: Kentucky Stuns No. 9 Louisville to Win Fifth Straight Governor's Cup
The Governor’s Cup is staying in Lexington. Kentucky delivered one second half counterpunch after another to knock out No. 9 Louisville. The 38-31 win is the fifth straight in the series for the Wildcats.
Kentucky was winless in three previous one-possession games in the fourth quarter. On the final Saturday of the regular season, the offense delivered. Barion Brown caught a 23-yard pass to put the Cats in scoring territory. On the following play Ray Davis scored the game-winning 38-yard touchdown. The talented Kentucky had running back had three scores, surpassing the Kentucky single-season record with 20 touchdowns.
Louisville had 62 seconds to score an equalizing touchdown. They got down to the 30-yard line before Jack Plummer threw an interception in the end zone.
Kentucky won despite being out-gained by more than 100 yards. Devin Leary completed 12-of-22 passes for 202 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. The difference-maker was on defense. The Wildcats forced three second half turnovers that resulted in 10 points, paving the way for the good guys to continue their winning ways in the city of Louisville. The Cardinals have not won a home game in this series since 2014.
Fast Start for Louisville
Like so many times in 2023, Kentucky started the game playing from behind. Fortunately, this time the Cats didn’t quickly find themselves in a two-score hole.
The Kentucky offense stalled after only one first down, setting the Cards up for a methodical opening script. Jack Plummer scrambled for an aggravating 28 yards to keep a 14-play drive alive until Jawhar Jordan punched it in from one yard out.
Complementary Kentucky Football
Complementary football has been a talking point throughout the 2023 season. The offense, defense and special teams all had inefficient moments early, then came together in the second quarter.
When a Kentucky drive stalled, the UK punt team pinned UofL back inside their own 10-yard line. The defense took advantage of the opportunity by forcing a three-and-out, giving Liam Coen’s offense a short field.
True freshman Khamari Anderson provided the drive-starter by leaping over a defender for a first down on his first career reception. Dane Key added a big play to get the Cats in the red zone, then delivered a touchdown reception on a beautiful third down throw from Devin Leary.
Barion Brown gives New Life to the Wildcats
Louisville opened the second half with a three-point lead and another slow-moving, methodical drive that relied heavily on the rushing attack, sprinkled in with Jack Plummer runs. The Cards got down into the red zone and hit a wall. Louisville was stuffed at the 1-yard line time and time again, until Jawhar Jordan’s second effort on fourth and one put six on the board.
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The score gave UofL a 10-point lead, one that felt like it could have been a dagger. Then the Cards kicked the ball to Barion Brown.
Slobber-Knocker Turns into a Shootout
Kentucky wasn’t the only one with a big special teams play. Filling in for kickoff duties, Alex Raynor had to make one tackle in the first half. The play after Brown’s house call almost turned into another return touchdown. Isaac Guerendo returned it to midfield and the Cards were rolling. Five plays later they were in the end zone.
Kentucky only had 97 yards in the first half. On the next drive they went 75 yards in two plays. A coverage bust left Izayah Cummings wide open for a 45-yard gain. Leary dropped one into Ray Davis’ bucket on the next snap for a Wildcat touchdown.
JJ Weaver is a Turnover-Making Machine
The good times did not stop there. J.J. Weaver flipped the game on its head right before the end of the third quarter. The Louisville native forced a fumble near midfield and left the pile with the football. Minutes later an Alex Raynor 46-yard field goal tied the game with just over ten minutes to play.
That wasn’t even JJ’s best work. On Louisville’s next third down, Jack Plummer tried scrambling to move the chains. D’Eryk Jackson got his hand on the football and Weaver recovered it, again. Two plays later Davis took a dump-off 20 yards to the end zone to give Kentucky the lead. Weaver did not have the senior season he wanted, but when the Wildcats needed big plays in the Governor’s Cup, he delivered.
Bad, Late Kentucky Turnover
Brad White’s defense stuffed Louisville on a fourth and one. Kentucky was a few first down runs away from ending the game. Facing a third and long, Devin Leary rolled right and took a shot to the ribs. Instead of a deep ball, Louisville essentially got to field a punt.
The Cards had a short field to get the game-tying score. A Josaih Hayes sack put them well behind the chains, then a third and 14 turned into a fourth and 5. Plummer had a man on his hip, but was able to find Amari Huggins-Bruce for the game-tying touchdown with 2:33 remaining.
Kentucky vs. Louisville Box Score
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