Cards Win Defensive Slugfest in Raleigh for Fifth Straight Win
September 29, 2023 | Football
Louisville improves to 5-0 for the first time since 2013.
RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Louisville football team overcame a double-digit halftime deficit for the second time this season, defeating NC State 13-10 on Friday night.
The victory moves Louisville to 5-0 overall for the first time since 2013 and 3-0 in ACC play for the first time since joining the league in 2014.
Despite struggling much of the night offensively, the Louisville defense held NC State to 201 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers while keeping the Wolfpack off the scoreboard in the second half.
The Cardinals also recorded a pair of sacks and eight tackles for loss while holding the NC State offense to a 3-15 conversion rate on third downs.
With the Wolfpack holding a 10-0 lead after the first half, Louisville evened the score in the third quarter on a Jack Plummer touchdown pass to Chris Bell and a field goal from Brock Travelstead.
Travelstead was also responsible for the eventual game-winner, booting a 53-yard field goal through the uprights with five-and-a-half minutes remaining to set a new Louisville record for the longest field goal in school history.
NC State got the ball back with just under two minutes remaining with a chance to tie or win the game, but Quincy Riley recorded his first interception of the season to seal the Louisville win.
Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm said:
"I'm really proud of our football team to go on the road and gut out a win in a sold-out environment. We hadn't done that before, so to do that and to fight to the end just shows great toughness by our football team. Some veterans stepped up and did a good job, so I'm really just proud of them. There's a lot of things we could've done better without question, but when you play good football teams, you're not going to win every rep. You just have to find a way to win more than they do and I think overall, we made enough plays. We still have a lot to learn, but it's just a really good win to come out here on the road with a W."
How It Happened
Second Quarter
06:27 – NCSU | Delbert Mimms, III capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. 13 plays, 65 yards, 6:54. NC State 7, Louisville 0
00:00 – NCSU | Brayden Narveson connected on a 48-yard field goal. 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:49. NC State 10, Louisville 0
Third Quarter
06:38 – UL | Jack Plummer's deep ball found Chris Bell in the end zone for a 39-touchdown strike. 3 plays, 46 yards, 0:56. NC State 10, Louisville 7
01:32 – UL | Brock Travelstead split the uprights from 33 yards to tie the game. 7 plays, 40 yards, 3:13. Louisville 10, NC State 10
Fourth Quarter
05:32 – UL | Brock Travelstead cashed in from 53 yards out for the eventual game-winning field goal to give Louisville their first lead of the game. 10 plays, 41 yards, 5:13. Louisville 13, NC State 10
Up Next
The victory moves Louisville to 5-0 overall for the first time since 2013 and 3-0 in ACC play for the first time since joining the league in 2014.
Despite struggling much of the night offensively, the Louisville defense held NC State to 201 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers while keeping the Wolfpack off the scoreboard in the second half.
The Cardinals also recorded a pair of sacks and eight tackles for loss while holding the NC State offense to a 3-15 conversion rate on third downs.
With the Wolfpack holding a 10-0 lead after the first half, Louisville evened the score in the third quarter on a Jack Plummer touchdown pass to Chris Bell and a field goal from Brock Travelstead.
Travelstead was also responsible for the eventual game-winner, booting a 53-yard field goal through the uprights with five-and-a-half minutes remaining to set a new Louisville record for the longest field goal in school history.
NC State got the ball back with just under two minutes remaining with a chance to tie or win the game, but Quincy Riley recorded his first interception of the season to seal the Louisville win.
Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm said:
"I'm really proud of our football team to go on the road and gut out a win in a sold-out environment. We hadn't done that before, so to do that and to fight to the end just shows great toughness by our football team. Some veterans stepped up and did a good job, so I'm really just proud of them. There's a lot of things we could've done better without question, but when you play good football teams, you're not going to win every rep. You just have to find a way to win more than they do and I think overall, we made enough plays. We still have a lot to learn, but it's just a really good win to come out here on the road with a W."
How It Happened
Second Quarter
06:27 – NCSU | Delbert Mimms, III capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run. 13 plays, 65 yards, 6:54. NC State 7, Louisville 0
00:00 – NCSU | Brayden Narveson connected on a 48-yard field goal. 4 plays, 1 yard, 0:49. NC State 10, Louisville 0
Third Quarter
06:38 – UL | Jack Plummer's deep ball found Chris Bell in the end zone for a 39-touchdown strike. 3 plays, 46 yards, 0:56. NC State 10, Louisville 7
01:32 – UL | Brock Travelstead split the uprights from 33 yards to tie the game. 7 plays, 40 yards, 3:13. Louisville 10, NC State 10
Fourth Quarter
05:32 – UL | Brock Travelstead cashed in from 53 yards out for the eventual game-winning field goal to give Louisville their first lead of the game. 10 plays, 41 yards, 5:13. Louisville 13, NC State 10
Up Next
- Louisville returns home for a Saturday night showdown against Notre Dame.
- The game is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on ABC.
Team Stats
LOU
NCS
Total Yards
306
201
Pass Yards
286
112
Rushing Yards
20
89
Penalty Yards
81
88
1st Downs
18
9
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
31:03
28:57
2nd Quarter

LOU 0, NCS 7
NCS - Mimms, III,Delbert 4 yd run (Narveson,Brayden kick), 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 06:54

LOU 0, NCS 10
NCS - Narveson,Brayden 48 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:49
3rd Quarter

LOU 7, NCS 10
LOU - Bell,Chris 39 yd pass from Plummer,Jack (Travelstead,Brock kick) 3 plays, 46 yards, TOP 00:56

LOU 10, NCS 10
LOU - Travelstead,Brock 33 yd field goal 7 plays, 40 yards, TOP 03:13
4th Quarter

LOU 13, NCS 10
LOU - Travelstead,Brock 53 yd field goal 10 plays, 41 yards, TOP 05:13
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
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