Cards Ready to Hit the Road For Trip to Virginia

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Looking for its third-straight win, the University of Louisville football team travels to Virginia on Saturday in a key Atlantic Coast Conference game at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va.

Kickoff is scheduled for noon on ABC with Alan Bestwick, Mike Belotti and Kris Budden calling the action.

After improving their record to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the ACC with a win over NC State on Saturday, the Cardinals hope to remain in the race for a league title and a trip to the College Football Playoffs against a talented Virginia team, which defeated the Cardinals in Charlottesville two seasons ago.

"We need to get ready for our game at Virginia," head coach Bobby Petrino said. Back on the road, we have to do a good job in practice this week, got to do a good job traveling, and get up and play another noon game. I think our players will be excited about it."

Off to one of their best starts since 2013, the Cardinals are very excited to get back on the field after a pair of home wins over Duke and NC State – the latter a 41-point win over a team that took No. 3 Clemson to overtime just two weeks ago.

With the first vote for the College Football Playoff slated for next week, the Cardinals aren't focused on the voters, but more importantly, improving each week and having fun out on the field.

"I think one of the things that we've really tried to harp on with our football team is let's not worry about the scoreboard," Petrino said. "We need to do a good job in the process and playing your best and getting ready each play and executing your job on each play and then the scoreboard takes care of itself.

I've liked the way our players have handled that. I think they've worked extremely hard at it and I think we've seen our effort grades get a lot better because really what we are focused on is one play at a time."

With all the attention firmly on the offense, the defense took center stage last weekend – holding the Wolfpack to a season-low 14 yards rushing and 250 yards of total offense.

The Cardinals – boasting a top 10 defense – has been solid against the run moving up to 19^th in the country, and has been playing at an extremely high level over the last couple weeks.

"We're doing a really nice job of stopping the run," Petrino said. "I like the way our front guys are playing because besides defeating blocks, we're able to make tackles and get production which a lot of times as a defensive lineman it's hard to get that kind of production."

Interceptions helped the Cardinals last Saturday, picking off three passes, including one on the first drive of the game.

"We recognized the route and it was a little bit of an arid throw because he had guys in his face as he threw the football," Petrino said. "The one that Jon Greenard got was just a great job by our execution of the defense and the defensive call got presser to one side and he thought he was going to throw a hot throw to a drag and Greenard clicked out and it hit him right in the chest."

While the defense was playing at the highest level, the offense maintained its monster pace by putting up 54 points – racing out to a 44-0 lead at the half.

Making a commitment to come out throwing the football, the Cardinals rode the arm of Lamar Jackson, who passed for 355 yards and three touchdowns.

"We went into the game saying we needed to throw the football to win the game and all we did all week long was run that and all week long we practiced it and repaired it. Lamar can really snap his wrist and throw the ball."

After such a big win over NC State, Petrino wants his team to hit the practice field this week with focus and intensity to prepare for another road contest.

"We just have to come back and work hard. You know challenge their maturity. We have to count on leadership from within the team, and I think our guys are hungry and we just need to stay hungry."

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