
(H-L photo/David Perry)
Big Blue Links for Sunday:
Mark Maloney of Herald-Leader — Louisville came away with more than a rivalry victory Saturday night. According to Coach Charlie Strong, the Cardinals made a statement with their 24-17 road triumph over Kentucky. “This is a tremendous team victory … and we said earlier to our team that we needed to have a statement game,” Strong said.
Mark Story of Herald-Leader — On the best statistical night of his Kentucky career, Morgan Newton didn’t get nearly enough help. Against a determined Louisville defensive effort, UK couldn’t run the ball. The Cats’ struggling offensive front couldn’t keep Newton on his feet, surrendering a whopping six sacks. Still, as the fourth-quarter clock ticked toward 0:00, Newton put the Cats in position to tie in a game in which UK trailed throughout.

(H-L photo/Mark Cornelison)
John Clay of Herald-Leader – Yet Kentucky played as if it believed it. The Cats once again started slowly, tentatively, trailing at halftime for the 11th time in the last 13 games. The offense performed only when its back was against the wall, late in the first half when down 14-3, then late in the game when down 24-10. In both cases, too little, too late. Once again, Kentucky got too little from its offensive line, a unit that was expected to be a strength.
Jerry Tipton of Herald-Leader — For the game sponsor, Friends of Coal, Kentucky’s 24-17 loss to Louisville on Saturday night looked much more like slurry than land reclamation. UK tried mightily to reclaim the victory, staging an improbable rally from 14 points down that died 18 yards from tying the score. Louisville held on to snap a four-game losing streak in the in-state series.
Rick Bozich of Courier-Journal — Strong was still yelling after the game. But he wasn’t yelling the same things he had been saying for a week. Not after Louisville hung a thunderous 24-17 defeat on Kentucky in Commonwealth Stadium. When UK quarterback Morgan Newton’s final pass sailed incomplete with 46 seconds to play, Strong pulled off his headset and raced to chest-bump Cardinal senior linebacker Dexter Heyman. Then he high-fived freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who pinch-hit for the injured Will Stein and threw two touchdown passes.
Larry Vaught of the Advocate-Messenger — It’s official now. Kentucky is in crisis mode and will not go to a sixth straight bowl game. It’s not just that the Wildcats lost 24-17 to Louisville here Saturday night to end a four-game winning streak against the Cardinals. It’s the way UK lost again. Louisville was the more physical team. Louisville was the more aggressive team. Louisville was simply better in all phases of the game. Don’t let the final score fool you, either. Kentucky made a valiant comeback try, but the team that deserved to win won the game.

(H-L photo/David Perry)
Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal — The University of Louisville football team turned to a new quarterback Saturday night to end its four-game losing streak against rival Kentucky. The Wildcats’ veteran quarterback, junior Morgan Newton, looked like a new man himself but got too little help. True freshman Teddy Bridgewater took over for injured starter Will Stein early in the second quarter and threw a pair of critical touchdown passes to lead the Cardinals to a 24-17 victory in Commonwealth Stadium.
Matt May of the Cats Pause — It’s rare that a play in the first seven minutes of the game turns out to be one of the most important but you could certainly make the case that La’Rod King’s fumble after a long catch from Morgan Newton on the Cats’ second possession was just that. UK already led 3-0 – although not getting a touchdown after having it 1st-and-Goal from the 5-yard line didn’t help – when King took a slant pass and rumbled up field inside the Louisville 25-yard line. King was blindsided by Dexter Heyman, jarring the football loose and allowing Louisville to take the air out of Commonwealth Stadium.
Ben Jones of Cats Illustrated – Stuart Hines was running out of answers. Kentucky’s senior left guard and captain faced reporters after his team’s 24-17 loss to Louisville and delivered the company line. “Missed opportunities,” he said, echoing his head coach. “Not making the plays.” But he retreated when asked if he felt the offensive line had a major part in the loss.
Ethan Levine of the Kentucky Kernel — With the score held at 24-17, UK’s offense drove down its home field and looked prepared to score the game-tying touchdown in front of its home fans. On a third down inside the Louisville 10-yard line, junior quarterback Morgan Newton completed a pass to freshman wide receiver Demarco Robinson for a first down. But after having the ball stripped from his possession, Robinson recovered his own fumble on the wrong side of the first down sticks, forcing a critical fourth down for the Cats with the game on the line. UK was unable to convert on fourth down as Newton overthrew a sideline pass, clinching the victory for Louisville.
Continue reading ‘BBL: Louisville’s statement sends Kentucky into a spin’