No. 15 Louisville understands the stakes are getting larger as they enter the ultimate month of the common season, starting Saturday evening with a house recreation in opposition to Cal.
Whereas Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm stated his message concerning the stakes rising is extra concerning the subsequent recreation than about making the Faculty Soccer Playoff, he instructed reporters on Monday that he thinks the crew is “totally conscious” of the place they stand.
“We speak about that as a result of we wish to stress … nonetheless exhausting you labored final week, regardless of whether or not issues went nice or not, you must work even tougher this week,” he stated. “Every thing issues, and if you wish to proceed to work your approach up the hill, you have to win the subsequent soccer recreation.”
The Cardinals (7-1, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Convention) can be with out a key offensive participant after they face the Bears (5-4, 2-3). Louisville’s Isaac Brown, who leads the nation with a mean of 8.6 yards per carry, suffered a proper leg damage late in Saturday’s 28-16 win at Virginia Tech. Brohm stated Monday that he expects Brown to be out for some time.
Louisville’s operating backs have battled accidents all through the season. Brown, Duke Watson and Keyjuan Brown have been on availability experiences earlier than video games.
Watson has been thought of the second-string again however has performed solely 4 video games, with 24 carries for 64 yards. Keyjuan Brown, no relation to Isaac, has stepped up when wanted. He has 189 dashing yards on 22 carries in his final two video games, with three touchdowns. He scored two within the second half in opposition to the Hokies to assist Louisville rally from a 16-7 halftime gap.
Even with the well being points, Louisville nonetheless ranks sixth within the 17-team ACC, averaging 155.8 dashing yards per recreation.
“Whoever they’re handing the ball to is de facto good,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox stated Tuesday.
The Bears have dropped their final two video games and three of the final 4. On Saturday, Cal gave up 456 yards and dedicated two turnovers in a 31-21 house loss to present No. 14 Virginia, which leads the ACC. Cal gave up 194 yards on the bottom. In convention play, the Bears are subsequent to final, giving up 205.4 yards per recreation in 5 contests.
Saturday’s recreation will function a matchup between Miller Moss, Louisville’s veteran quarterback who transferred from Southern Cal within the offseason, vs. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
Moss, a redshirt senior, has accomplished 65.3% of his passes for 1,929 yards and 11 touchdowns, with six interceptions.
Sagapolutele, a freshman, has thrown for not less than 208 yards in every recreation this season. Nonetheless, he has been intercepted 9 instances, and he is been sacked seven instances within the final two video games. However he hasn’t gotten a lot assist from his backfield. Cal averages simply 78.6 yards per recreation on the bottom, the second-lowest amongst 134 FBS groups.
Sagapolutele will face one among his hardest exams this weekend in opposition to a protection ranked eleventh nationally, averaging 280.5 yards allowed per recreation. Louisville additionally has intercepted 12 passes this season, tied for seventh nationally.
If Cal can pull off the upset, the Bears wouldn’t solely possible sprint Louisville’s playoff hopes, they might develop into bowl eligible for a 3rd straight season. That will be the college’s longest streak since making seven straight from 2003-09.
–Discipline Stage Media