NC State football hands Louisville yet another embarrassing loss

Louisville started life after Bobby Petrino much like the rest of their season has gone. The Cardinals lost again at home as NC State football won big.

In their first game playing for interim head coach Lorenzo Ward, Louisville actually managed to score first in a home showdown against ACC Atlantic rival NC State on Saturday afternoon. Blanton Creque put his 32-yard field goal attempt through the uprights on the first Cardinals offensive series of the game. It proved the only points that Louisville managed until the fourth quarter, as NC State ran away with a 52-10 victory at Cardinal Stadium.

Ryan Finley was once again a stud at quarterback for the Wolfpack, throwing for 316 yards and four touchdowns on 26-of-36 passing. Finley came out of the game in the second half after NC State had built up an insurmountable lead, offering backup Matthew McKay a chance to get playing time. McKay went off for 38 yards in the air and another 22 on the ground, and he helped lead a late touchdown drive.

Reggie Gallaspy II led the way on the ground for NC State, finishing the day with 73 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Ricky Person Jr. added another 44 hard-earned yards on 14 carries, while Brady Bodine added a rushing score on one of his four attempts. As a unit, the backfield finished with a combined 164 yards and three scores.

Malik Cunningham, starting at quarterback after Jawon Pass was suspended for the first half, had a respectable day on the ground for the hosts, but struggled passing the ball. Cunningham finished with 100 rushing yards and the lone Louisville touchdown on 14 carries, but he also went just 8-of-14 passing for 90 yards through the air. Cunningham also gave away a fumble after taking a sack on the first drive of the second half. After Pass came into the game, he went just 5-of-11 for 67 yards and an interception.

A 10-win season is still a possibility for NC State this season, as the Wolfpack need only to take down North Carolina on Thanksgiving weekend and then East Carolina on the first Saturday of December. NC State is playing the Pirates in a game to fill out the schedule after the battle with West Virginia was cancelled in September due to Hurricane Florence.

Louisville has one more chance to redeem an utterly disappointing season when they face a ranked Kentucky team for the Governor’s Cup. But there will be no bowl game this year, after the Cardinals saw their head coach dismissed before the end of the campaign.