Louisville Football: Future bright after Music City Bowl win over MSU

Scott Satterfield and Louisville football ended their season on a high note with a win over Mississippi State in the Music City Bowl.

Mississippi State jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead in the 2019 Music City Bowl behind quarterback Tommy Stevens’ legs. Louisville then struck for 31 unanswered to lead 31-14, and won comfortably by a score of 38-28.

The game opened about as bad as it could for Mississippi State, with an injury to first-team All-SEC running back Kylin Hill and a quick three-and-out. Louisville proceeded to drive 96 yards in just eight plays before a Dez Fitzpatrick fumble on the three yard line.

Mississippi State and quarterback Tommy Stevens took advantage of the Cardinal turnover and drove 99 yards in eight plays of their own to take a 7-0 lead. Two possessions later, the Bulldogs struck again, taking a 14-0 lead. The two-touchdown deficit was compounded by a head-scratching ejection of Louisville starting middle-linebacker Dorian Etheridge and it looked like the Cardinals were in trouble.

Louisville used a trick-play touchdown and a fumbled kickoff by Mississippi State to get back into the game, although penalties and a potential big play dropped by Hassan Hall prevented Louisville from tying the game and the Bulldogs led 14-10 at halftime.

The second half belonged all to Louisville, who outscored MSU 28-14 in the final 30 minutes to enjoy a 38-28 Music City Bowl victory. The Cardinals had their way on offense, out-gaining the Bulldogs 511-366. The Louisville front seven seemed to live in Mississippi State’s backfield, pressuring Tommy Stevens on nearly every dropback.

The Louisville trifecta of quarterback Micale Cunningham, running back Javian Hawkins and new school single-season receiving leader Tutu Atwell were responsible for all but four of the Cardinals 511 total yards. This is a fitting conclusion to a resurgent Louisville season and a springboard to what looks like a promising future for Satterfield’s Cardinals.

As for Mississippi State, star running back Kylin Hill was clearly limited after being injured on the first series. Hill, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry this season for 1,347 yards was held to a meager three yards on seven carries. Hill being banged up certainly contributed to the Bulldogs’ offensive struggles, but in the end they were clearly outplayed by Louisville.