Louisville 20, Houston 13
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Teddy Bridgewater failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 22 games, but No. 19 Louisville rode a stout defense and the running of Dominique Brown to a 20-13 victory over Houston on Saturday night in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Louisville (9-1, 5-1 American Athletic Conference) limited Houston (7-3, 4-2) to just 13 first downs (three in the second half) and 195 yards, and Brown ran 27 times for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
Houston led 13-10 at halftime, but Louisville scored the first two times it had the ball in the second half. Then the defense took over.
Houston did not cross midfield in the second half, and the Cougars gained just 42 yards in the half. They got only three first downs. On their final possession, the Cardinals had back-to-back sacks on first and second downs, bringing up a third-and-38 for the Cougars from their 5-yard line. Houston quarterback John O'Korn ran 15 yards to the 20, but their fourth-down play came up short and Louisville ran out the clock.
Louisville took the second-half kickoff and marched 70 yards in seven plays to a 3-yard touchdown run by Brown one play after a 39-yard pass from Bridgewater to junior wide receiver DeVante Parker. That gave Louisville a 17-13 lead with 11:09 remaining in the third quarter.
On the touchdown play, Houston safety Adrian McDonald was ejected for throwing a punch.
The Cards then forced a three-and-out and took over at their 32 after a 45-yard punt by Richie Leone. Eleven plays later, John Wallace kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it 20-13 with 2:55 left in the third quarter.
After getting off to a rocky start, Houston scored the final 13 points of the first half to take a 13-10 lead.
After Houston stalled at the Louisville 23-yard line, the Cardinals marched 77 yards in 12 plays. Brown scored on a 13-yard run around left end to make it 7-0 with 6:45 left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals took a 10-0 lead when they drove 45 yards in eight plays and got a 37-yard field goal by John Wallace with 14:11 left in the second quarter.
Houston finally got untracked, marching 48 yards in seven plays to the Louisville 28, where Kyle Bullard booted a 46-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 12:12 to go.
After Louisville went three-and-out, Houston moved 60 yards in 10 plays and scored on a 4-yard run by Kenneth Farrow, tying it at 10 with 6:35 remaining.
Houston took the lead after recovering a fumbled punt by Michaelee Harris at the Louisville 39. The Cougars caught a break when Louisville was called for roughing O'Korn, negating an interception on third down. Five plays later, Bullard kicked a 22-yard field goal with 25 seconds left in the half.
NOTES: Louisville has won 19 of its last 22 games. ... Houston leads the nation with a turnover margin of plus-20. The Cougars have forced 32 turnovers -- 18 interceptions and 14 fumbles. ... Louisville RT Abraham Garcia was on crutches and inactive. Also inactive was WR Kai De La Cruz (pulled hamstring).
