Photo by: Joshua S. Kelly | USA TODAY Sports
Cards Looking to Keep Home Streak Rolling Versus NC State on Saturday
October 17, 2016 | Football
Cards have won seven in a row at home.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There is no place like home -- just ask the University of Louisville football team. Winners of seven-straight games at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, the Cardinals remain home Saturday to host NC State at noon. ABC will televise the game, with Bob Wischusen, Brock Huard and Allison Williams calling the action.
The Cardinals have been dominant at home despite out-lasting a pesky Duke team last Friday night. Sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson totaled 325 yards of total offense and two scores, while the defense limited the Blue Devils to 239 yards of offense as the Cardinals improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.
During head coach Bobby Petrino's tenure at Louisville, defending the home turf has been his mantra, and his teams have listened closely – posting a 34-4 overall mark over his seven seasons on the sidelines.
However, that record will certainly be tested Saturday, when a solid, physical NC State teams visits Louisville for a crucial ACC contest.
"They have a quarterback who was throwing for over seventy-percent completions," Petrino said. "Defensively, they lineup in a four-man front and pressure a little bit, but not as much as a lot of guys do. They play very sound. They make you earn it is what they do is really what they do. They make you earn it. They tackle well and they run full speed to the ball, so they're very impressive."
The Wolfpack is coming off a hear-breaking 24-17 loss in Death Valley to third-ranked Clemson last Saturday. NC State had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but missed a 33-yard field goal as time expired.
The Tigers, in overtime, scored on their first drive, and closed it out with an interception in the end zone to preserve the seven-point win and remain undefeated.
"I knew that would be a good, close, hard-fought football game, as Clemson did going into the game," Petrino said. "I mean, you could put the video on and you watch North Carolina State and you see the physicalness of their defensive front, their offensive front, the same two linebackers we've been going against. We got lucky our first year because their inside linebacker didn't play against us, but they're really good."
The Cardinals have been really good, as well, winning five of their first six games to open the year to remain at No. 7 in the recent polls. Louisville pulled out a hard-fought win last Friday night, despite not playing its best game of the season.
"I just think we have to do a better job," Petrino said of his team's performance. "You know, we have to go out this week and have a great week of practice and be more intense, more into our focus, more in the preparation that we've had for the other games that we've played early in the Fall."
"We weren't at the top of our game and we need to get back to that, get back to our players you know, working to have the best game they've had all year."
The Cardinals better be on top of their game Saturday afternoon against an NC State team that took No. 3 Clemson to the brink.
"They're a very, very good football team," Petrino said. We know them well because the majority of the players are the same guys we've been playing against for the last two years. They're very well coached. They're a physical team. We've always had really good battles with them and found a way to win in the fourth quarter, so I imagine this is going be a very good football game."
Â
The Cardinals have been dominant at home despite out-lasting a pesky Duke team last Friday night. Sophomore quarterback Lamar Jackson totaled 325 yards of total offense and two scores, while the defense limited the Blue Devils to 239 yards of offense as the Cardinals improved to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.
During head coach Bobby Petrino's tenure at Louisville, defending the home turf has been his mantra, and his teams have listened closely – posting a 34-4 overall mark over his seven seasons on the sidelines.
However, that record will certainly be tested Saturday, when a solid, physical NC State teams visits Louisville for a crucial ACC contest.
"They have a quarterback who was throwing for over seventy-percent completions," Petrino said. "Defensively, they lineup in a four-man front and pressure a little bit, but not as much as a lot of guys do. They play very sound. They make you earn it is what they do is really what they do. They make you earn it. They tackle well and they run full speed to the ball, so they're very impressive."
The Wolfpack is coming off a hear-breaking 24-17 loss in Death Valley to third-ranked Clemson last Saturday. NC State had an opportunity to win the game in regulation, but missed a 33-yard field goal as time expired.
The Tigers, in overtime, scored on their first drive, and closed it out with an interception in the end zone to preserve the seven-point win and remain undefeated.
"I knew that would be a good, close, hard-fought football game, as Clemson did going into the game," Petrino said. "I mean, you could put the video on and you watch North Carolina State and you see the physicalness of their defensive front, their offensive front, the same two linebackers we've been going against. We got lucky our first year because their inside linebacker didn't play against us, but they're really good."
The Cardinals have been really good, as well, winning five of their first six games to open the year to remain at No. 7 in the recent polls. Louisville pulled out a hard-fought win last Friday night, despite not playing its best game of the season.
"I just think we have to do a better job," Petrino said of his team's performance. "You know, we have to go out this week and have a great week of practice and be more intense, more into our focus, more in the preparation that we've had for the other games that we've played early in the Fall."
"We weren't at the top of our game and we need to get back to that, get back to our players you know, working to have the best game they've had all year."
The Cardinals better be on top of their game Saturday afternoon against an NC State team that took No. 3 Clemson to the brink.
"They're a very, very good football team," Petrino said. We know them well because the majority of the players are the same guys we've been playing against for the last two years. They're very well coached. They're a physical team. We've always had really good battles with them and found a way to win in the fourth quarter, so I imagine this is going be a very good football game."
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballThe Card Tape: Boca Raton Bowl
Friday, December 26
FB: Bush's Boca Raton Bowl Postgame Press Conference
Wednesday, December 24
The Card Tape: Kentucky (2025)
Monday, December 01
FB: Highlights vs. Kentucky
Sunday, November 30
