UCF Upsets No. 8 Louisville 38-35 to End Cardinals’ Unbeaten Hopes

Oct 18, 2013; Louisville, KY, USA; UCF Knights quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws the game winning touch down pass during the second half of play against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Central Florida defeated Louisville 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

Whatever small hopes that Teddy Bridgewater and the Louisville Cardinals had of going unbeaten throughout 2013 and competing for a shot at the national championship were dashed by AAC foe Central Florida on Friday night in a 38-35 shootout.

Down 28-7 in the third quarter, the Knights’ dynamic duo of QB Blake Bortles and RB Storm Johnson handled business the only way they know how.

Johnson, who finished the game with 109 yards on 18 carries, scored on a one-yard run with 4:50 left in the third and then weaved his way through the Louisville defense on a 20-yard scoring pass just a little over a minute later.

Fast forward to the fourth quarter, and it was Bortles’ turn.

After a Cardinals rushing touchdown had put them ahead, Bortles led an 11-play, 75-yard drive which he capped off with a two-yard pass to Jeff Godfrey to seal the victory for the Knights, and their second huge win on the road this season, as they already have an upset over Penn State in Happy Valley to hang their hats on.

As for Louisville, QB and projected top NFL Draft pick, Teddy Bridgewater, was stellar yet again, going 29-of-38 for 341 yards and two scores. However, he just didn’t have help all around from the rest of the squad, something that we all assumed may happen to this team at some point as they tried to reach what, to some, was an almost unattainable goal of playing for the title, even over a one-loss SEC team.

But now, all of that talk can be put to rest as Bridgewater, head coach Charlie Strong and the rest of this Cardinals team will look to pick up the pieces and continue their quest for a second-consecutive BCS appearance, at the very least. The still have a chance to win the AAC, but will need some help.