The College Football Blog: 2012 Big East Game of the Year

Big East Game of the Year

Week 14: Louisville at Rutgers (20-17)

Highlights: This game was played for the Big East championship and a trip to a BCS bowl. Both teams entered at 9-2 and were coming off of ugly losses. Louisville began the game with QB Teddy Bridgewater on the bench with an injured ankle and broken hand. Rutgers’ home field advantage and Bridgewater’s injury led to the Scarlet Knights coming in as 3.5-point favorites.

However, Bridgewater would enter the game and save the Cards before the night was over. The Cardinals had a 22-9 edge in 1^st downs and more than a 24-minute advantage in time of possession, but they needed a late FG to escape with the win. 

Rutgers took the lead early on, as Gary Nova hit Brandon Coleman on an 85-yard TD on the Knights’ first offensive play. Louisville was stopped on 4^th down on their next possession and the Rutgers offense was stopped on 4^th down on the ensuing possession. Louisville got a FG early in the 2^nd to get on the board, but Nova hooked up with Mark Harrison for a 68-yard TD that gave Rutgers a 14-3 lead at the half. 

Early in the 3^rd quarter Louisville missed a FG to keep the lead at 11. Bridgewater—who had entered the game early in the 2^nd quarter—finally got the Cards rolling midway through the 3^rd. They went on a 14-play, 90-yard drive for a score, taking 7:46 off the clock and cutting the deficit to 14-10 with 49 seconds remaining in the 3^rd. 

The turning point of the game came on the ensuing kickoff, as Rutgers fumbled, and Louisville recovered at the 20. On the next play, Louisville scored to take a 17-14 lead into the 4^th quarter. Rutgers picked off Bridgewater early in the 4^th quarter inside Knights territory and returned the ball into Louisville territory. The Scarlet Knights kicked a FG to tie it at 17 with under 8 minutes to go. 

With less than 4 minutes remaining, Nova was intercepted and Louisville took over at the Rutgers 47. John Wallace booted a 29-yard FG to put the Cards on top 20-17 with just 1:41 left. The Knights moved across midfield and had a 1^st down at the 48 with over a minute still to play and a timeout remaining. However, Nova tried to go deep and his receiver stopped on the route and Louisville intercepted at the 18 with 1:06 left, clinching the victory.