Bonnafon Continues to Settle into the Quarterback Position
October 07, 2014 | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There have not been a lot of true freshman to take the field as the starting quarterback at the University of Louisville, but Reggie Bonnafon has made a pair of starts the last two weeks for the Cardinals, who enter Saturday's game at Clemson with a 5-1 record and a 3-1 mark in the ACC.
The Cardinals will face their sternest test to date in Death Valley when Louisville faces No. 25 Clemson at 3:30 p.m. on ESPNU. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools, who both are battling for position in the ACC's Atlantic Division.
Bonnafon was solid in his first road start last Friday at Syracuse in leading the Cardinals to a 28-6 win over the Orange. Bonnafon threw for 174 yards and a score, but seemed to adjust better in the second half.
After going 5-for-11 in the first half against Syracuse, Bonnafon seemed to settle down, going 7-for-11 and his lone touchdown pass. The offense clicked better in the second half as the Cardinals orchestrated two second-half scoring drives.
"Reggie is poised," offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said on Tuesday after practice. "He didn't start well the other night, but once he gets hit, he starts to settle down. I'm impressed with the way he manages himself out on the field."
Bonnafon has the perfect mentality to be a quarterback on the Division I level, but the rookie from Trinity High knows he is a work in progress.
"It's all about reps, being consistent and focusing on the play calls and learning about the defenses. Every time I'm out there on the field and every play, I feel like I'm getting better out there. I think it felt right."
Bonnafon has started slow in his first two starts this year, but Bonnafon knows he has to get into the flow of the game from the first snap.
"Most of the time when I get hit, and I taste a little blood then I get my juices flowing a little bit that's when I get going," Bonnafon said. "It's something I plan on working on and come into the game with a smile on my face and not a frown."
The Cardinals will face, not only a great defense in Clemson, but one of the biggest stadiums they played in in almost 14 years, which presents a huge challenge for the Cardinals, especially on offense.
"We will use hand signals," McGee said. "You must account for the noise with your focus and communication. We know it's going to be loud so we have to focus." Bonnafon
"That is why you come to a program like this," Bonnafon said. "Growing up as a kid, you would watch games and see those big crowds, and you always hoped to be in those shoes one day. It's a dream come true for me and my teammates."
The Cardinals know the challenge they will face from the Clemson defense, which held NC State last week to 35 yards passing and have one of the nation's top pass rushers in Victor Beasley. The Cardinals must be ready for him, but also for Death Valley, which is regarded as one of the nation's toughest place to play.
