LEXINGTON, Ky. — On Saturday, the Louisville Cardinals decisively defeated their rival, Kentucky Wildcats, with a score of 41-14, clinching the Governor’s Cup for the first time since 2017. This victory showcased strong performances from several key players, including Isaac Brown and Duke Watson, who each contributed two touchdowns to the team’s success.
Brown kicked off the scoring for the Cardinals (8-4) with a 1-yard touchdown run, helping them secure a 20-0 lead at halftime. He later added a stunning 67-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, marking a significant achievement for the freshman. With a total of 178 rushing yards on 26 carries, Brown surpassed former quarterback Lamar Jackson, making him the first freshman in Louisville history to accumulate over 1,000 rushing yards in a season; Jackson had achieved 960 yards in 2015 before winning the Heisman Trophy.
Watson also had an impressive outing, carrying the ball six times for a remarkable 104 yards. His standout moment came in the second quarter when he blazed down the left sideline for a 58-yard touchdown. He capped off his performance with a 24-yard scoring run late in the third quarter, extending their lead to 34-7.
Ramon Puryear further contributed to the Cardinals’ dominant performance with a 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown, which stifled any momentum Kentucky had gained after Ja’Mori Maclin caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Wimsatt for their initial score. Wimsatt, who came in for the injured freshman Cutter Boley at halftime, also threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Maclin in the fourth quarter, completing 4 of 9 passes for 125 yards.
On the defensive side, Tamarion McDonald shone brightly, recovering a fumble and intercepting a pass, as Louisville outperformed Kentucky offensively by gaining 486 total yards compared to the Wildcats’ 328.
The takeaway from the game reflected a mixture of realizations for both teams. For Louisville, despite missing scoring opportunities early on by settling for field goals, the second half saw them capitalize on their chances, with Brown and Watson steering the victory while Puryear shored up their defensive prowess. Conversely, Kentucky’s Boley was unable to deliver the anticipated glimpse of the future during his first college start, struggling with two interceptions and completing only 6 of 15 passes for a mere 48 yards. Additionally, Jamarion Wilcox’s two fumbles and Wimsatt’s interception complicated their efforts, opening the door to discussions about a potential quarterback competition ahead of next spring.
Looking forward, Louisville is poised to find out their bowl assignment on December 8.
