Louisville Upset by Pitt for First Loss of Season

The previously undefeated Cardinals succumb to the trap game, losing at the Panthers as a touchdown favorite on the road.

PITTSBURGH - The undefeated start to the Jeff Brohm era of the Louisville football program has officially come to an end.

Traveling up the Ohio River for a matchup at Pitt to resume ACC play, Louisville was unable to overcome critical mistakes and a litany of crucial injuries, getting upset 38-21 Saturday at Acrisure Stadium for their first loss of the season.

The No. 14 Cardinals (6-1, 3-1 ACC) entered the game having won their first six games in a season for the first time 2013, and on a seven-game win streak overall. Conversely, the Panthers (2-4, 1-2 ACC) had been off to their worst start since their 2005 campaign before pulling off the upset.

Both heading into and during the game, Louisville suffered a variety of injuries to key players. Wide receiver Jamari Thrash played through a wrist injury that came up in the days leading up to the game, offensive guard Renato Brown was ruled out after slipping during pregame warmups, star running back Jawhar Jordan was limited to the first series of the game due to a hamstring injury, and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. exited the contest in the second quarter with an unknown injury.

However, despite Louisville out-gaining the Panthers 430-290, a trio of turnovers by the Cardinals - all coming inside the red zone by quarterback Jack Plummer - proved to be the major difference in the final outcome. The Panthers also out-scored the Cardinals 24-0 in the second half.

Plummer went 29-for-51 for 336 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Chris Bell, but also threw a pair of interceptions - including a pick-six - and fumbled as well. Thrash, despite the wrist injury, still finished with nine receptions for 120 yards.

With Jordan on the sideline, Isaac Guerendo and Maurice Turner carried the load in the light but consistant rain. Guerendo had 13 carries for 38 yards and two touchdowns, while Turner had 12 rushes for 81 yards.

In his first start following Phil Jurkovec's benching, Pitt quarterback Christian Veilleux went 12-for-26 for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Running back C'Bo Flemister ran for just 27 yards on 13 carries, but that also came with a pair of touchdowns.

Facing an injury-riddled Pitt offensive line, Louisville could only muster one sack, coming from Mason Reiger, and four tackles for loss against the Panthers. Cardinals Linebacker T.J. Quinn led the defense with 12 tackles.

Louisville got off to a good start on both sides of the football. Bell hauled in a seven-yard touchdown on a quick and efficient first drive of the game, while the Cardinals' defense held Pitt to -11 yards on their first three drives out.

After a paltry offensive showing right out of the gate, the Panthers' offense woke up on their fourth drive out. They orchestrated an explosive three-play and 70-yard drive, one that ended with a 46-yard touchdown to Means and tie the game. Prior to this completion, Veilleux was 0-5 to start the game.

The Cardinals responded immediately with an unorthodox scoring drive. Their first drive of the second quarter saw two recovered fumbles, a 3rd and 18 conversation by Thrash, and then a one-yard touchdown on the goal line by Isaac Guerendo.

A crucial swing point came late in the second quarter. After Pitt was forced to punt following the go-ahead score and Louisville was driving down the field, Plummer was hit from behind with the Panthers recovering the ensuing fumble. Pitt capitalized on the turnover with a clock-killing drive that culminated with an equalizing one-yard score by C'Bo Flemister.

With 1:23 left until halftime, Louisville made sure that they would not go into the locker room dead even. They were able to march 75 yards in just 62 seconds, with Guerendo collecting touchdown No. 2 from five yards out to go up 21-14 heading in the locker room.

Once the teams retook the field for the second half, Pitt took full control. A turnover on downs by Louisville on the first drive of the half led directly to a 46-yard field goal by the Panthers, then Pitt would take the lead on their next drive out with a bruising, methodical drive that was capped off with a three-yard touchdown run by Flemister.

Following the go-ahead score by Pitt, Plummer would throw back-to-back interceptions in plus territory to officially put the game out of reach. The first was an 86-yard pick-six by cornerback M.J. Devonshire, while the other was a ball the bounced out of Calloway's hands and into the grasp of Panthers cornerback A.J. Woods.

While the Louisville defense held their own late in the game, forcing three-and-outs on Pitt's first three fourth quarter drives, the offense couldn't hold up their end of the bargain. Brock Travelstead missed a 47-yard field goal on the Cardinals' first drive of the fourth, then Louisville followed that up with turnovers on downs on their final three drives of the game

The final, decisive nail in the coffin came when Veilleux found Konata Mumpfield for a 31-yard score with 3:03 left in the game.

Next up, Louisville heads into their bye week. The Cardinals will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 28. when they return home to host Duke. Time and television designation have yet to be announced.

(Photo of Jack Plummer: Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports)

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