GAME BLOG: Utah 30, Louisville 14

Final
Score: Utah 30, Louisville 14
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah's defense forced three Louisville turnovers and blocked a field goal attempt as the Utes defeated the Cardinals 30-14.

The Utes improved to 3-1 with the win, while the Cardinals fell to 1-2.

Utah held Louisville to only 261 yards on the night, allowing them to convert on only 4 of 14 third downs.

Terrance Cain led the Ute offense, throwing for 202 yards and rushing for 51 yards. It was a good performance for an offense that struggled last week against Oregon. The Utes gained 416 total yards.

Next up for the Utes:at Colorado State (Oct. 10)
Next up for the Cardinals: Pittsburgh

Time Remaining: 1:48 Fourth Quarter
Score: Utah 30, Louisville 14

The Utes force a quick three and out and can now run off some clock. Louisville will get the ball back with under three minutes left in the game.

Louisville QB Justin Burke trips on 4th down, giving the Utes the ball and they can now run out most, if not all of the clock.

Time Remaining: 5:08 Fourth Quarter
Score: Utah 30, Louisville 14

Louisville's offense marches down the field in 9 plays, with the touchdown coming on a tipped ball that landed in TE Cameron Graham's hands and he ran it in from 16 yards out. Utah's lead is now only 9, and with no running back, can the Utes hold on for the win?

Good news for Utah as RB Eddie Wide is back in the game. After moving all the way down to the Cardinal 18 yard line, a 15 yard personal foul late hit call on the Utes pushes the ball all the way back to the 33 yard line, where it will be 3rd and 15 instead of 3rd and inches. Cain connects with Jereme Brooks for a 34 yard touchdown pass to push the Utah lead to 16.

Time Remaining: 12:34 Fourth Quarter
Score: Utah 23, Louisville 7

Utah's defense forces Louisville into a quick three and out, and the Utes will take over on their own 31 following the Cardinal punt. Utah runs a nice trick play as Wide lined up in the "Asiata" formation, handed it off to Cain as he ran in motion, and Cain then threw downfield to David Reed. The pass fell incomplete, but the Cardinals were called for pass interference, giving the Utes the ball on the Louisville 49 yard line. Eddie Wide ran the "Asiata" direct snap twice more for runs of 12 and 25, setting the Utes up with 1st and 10 on the Cardinal 12 yard line. Eddie Wide was injured on the next play, and with Matt Asiata hurt (knee) and "Shak" out (shoulder), the Utes will have to let receivers and Cain run the ball. Utah settles for a 24 yard field goal by Joe Phillips.

Time Remaining: 1:56 Third Quarter
Score: Utah 20, Louisville 7

Louisville shoots themselves in the foot after a 20 yard gain is negated by a holding call, forcing a 3rd and 21. Burke is sacked on the play, and the Cardinals will likely punt on 4th and 26.

Utah will start on their own 40 yard line following the punt. After picking up a first down, Utah's offense stalls and Sean Sellwood comes in to punt.

Time Remaining: 5:52 Third Quarter
Score: Utah 20, Louisville 7

The Cardinals intercept Cain's first pass of the half, returning it all the way down to the Ute 29 yard line. Great field position for Louisville. Louisville takes advantage of the takeaway as QB Justin Burke scrambles his way in for the score from 8 yards out. That was Burke's first career touchdown run.

Bad news for the Utes as they go three and out on their next possession. The Cardinals now have the ball on their own 45.

Injury update: Utah OL Zane Beadles has a laceration on his leg and will not return to the game.

Time Remaining: 11:23 Third Quarter
Score: Utah 20, Louisville 0

Louisville will start the half from their own 20. The Cardinals start the drive on the ground, picking up two first downs, but a BIG hit by Ute Strong Safety Justin Talpin-Ross breaks up a pass on 3rd down to force a Cardinal punt. Utah's defense is playing physical, smash mouth football so far tonight.

Halftime
Score: Utah 20, Louisville 0

Luke Matthews catches a 31 yard pass from Terrance Cain to set up a 48 yard field goal attempt by Joe Phillips. Phillips makes it, setting a new career long for him.

Halftime notes: Tonight's attendance is 45,588, the 6th largest crowd in stadium history. And the energy from the crowd has helped the Utes jump out to a 20-0 halftime lead against the Louisville Cardinals. The defense has taken the initiative, forcing three Cardinal turnovers and blocking a field goal. Terrance Cain looks to have regain some confidence, starting the game 9-9 for 100 yards.

Key halftime stats for the Utes:

• Terrance Cain, 12-15 134 yards 1 touchdown, 8 carries for 42 yards
• Total Offense: 234 yards (100 rush, 134 pass)
• 3rd down conversion: 2-7

Key halftime stats for the Cardinals:

• Justin Burke, 9-16 99 yards 1 INT
• 3 turnovers (2 fumble, 1 INT)
• 3rd down conversion: 1-6

Time Remaining: 1:03 Second Quarter
Score: Utah 17, Louisville 0

Both teams have exchanged punts and the Cardinals will get one more shot at the end zone starting at their own 28 yard line with 1:39 left to play in the half. Utah's defense has played really well tonight. They are able to force the Cardinals to punt and will get a chance of their own to score with about a minute left.

Time Remaining: 5:17 Second Quarter
Score: Utah 17, Louisville 0

Utah is unable to move the ball on three great defensive plays by the Cardinals. After the punt, Utah's defense comes up big again as LB Mike Wright intercepts Justin Burke's pass to give the Utes the ball on the Cardinal 31 yard line.

Terrance Cain is now running plays similar to what Corbin Louks ran last year for the Utes. Cain rolled to his right and cut upfield for a nice nine yard gain. Joe Phillips' 30 yard field goal attempt good to push the Utah lead to 17.

Time Remaining: 8:47 Second Quarter
Score: Utah 14, Louisville 0

Utah is able to move the ball near midfield and looked to have another first down, but a holding call negates a nice run by Eddie Wide and Sean Sellwood comes in to punt. On the last series, Cain threw his first incompletion of the game on 3rd and 12. Prior to that he was a perfect 9-9 for 100 yards. He is looking much more confident throwing the ball in front of the home crowd.

Louisville catches a break on an ensuing 3rd and 15 when Utah is called for defensive holding on a way overthrown ball by Justin Burke. Three plays later Ute CB Brandon Burton is called for pass interference, giving the Cardinals another automatic first down in a 3rd and long situation. Robert Johnson and Sealver Siliga come up big for the Ute defense, forcing Cardinal RB Bilal Powell to fumble and Dave Kruger is able to recover give the Utes the ball at their own 36 yard line.

Time Remaining: 1:31 First Quarter
Score: Utah 14, Louisville 0

Louisville manages a first down on a nice pass from Burke to WR Scott Long for 10 yards, but on the next series Nose Tackle Sealver Siliga deflects Justin Burke's pass, forcing a Cardinal punt. A roughing the kicker penalty on the punt gives the Cardinals an automatic first down. Utah's defense forces a three and out and we will redo the punt. I like the adjustments Utah has made to stop the run and force the Cardinals into 3rd and long situations.

Time Remaining: 5:46 First Quarter
Score: Utah 14, Louisville 0

Terrance Cain looks more composed on the next Ute drive. He is able to complete a 17 yard pass to Matt Asiata on 3rd and 3, and a 14 yard pass on 3rd and 11 to Aiona Key. Matt Asiata does the rest of the work, taking the option pitch from Cain 24 yards in for the touchdown. He is being much more physical tonight with his shoulder being closer to 100%.

On Louisville's first play of the drive, Trent Guy took the pitch 15 yards when Koa Misi forced a fumble, when Robert Johnson catches it in midair, throws it back inbounds to be recovered by RJ Stanford. Utah will take over on the Cardinal 42 yard line. The very next play Terrance Cain throws a strike to David Reed on a post route for the touchdown to give the Utes a 14 point lead, all of which have come in the last 18 seconds.

Injury Report: RB Matt Asiata hurt his knee and is out of the game. He will be evaluated after the game, but he will not return.

Time Remaining: 10:34 First Quarter
Score: Utah 0, Louisville 0

Louisville won the coin toss and elected to defer to the 2nd half. Terrance Cain rolls to is left and is sacked on the Utes first play from scrimmage. Louisville is able to force a quick three and out. Sean Sellwood punts a career high 63 yard boot to give the Cardinals the ball on their own 21.

Utah's defense has already given up a big play to the Cardinals. Quarterback Justin Burke completed a playaction pass for 44 yards down to the Utah 8. Utah's defense then buckled down, forcing a field goal attempt, but cornerback RJ Stanford was able to get high enough for the block. Utah is able to avoid giving up points after giving up the 44 yard pass over the middle.

• Regain confidence for Terrance Cain - after last week's tough loss to Oregon, the Utes will need to rebuild their quarterback's confidence by simplifying the offense and allowing him to complete short passes. A closer to full strength Matt Asiata should help take some pressure off Cain.
• Don't give up big plays on defense

Keys to the Game for Louisville

• Run, Run, Run - Utah's run defense (#78 NCAA) has been suspect at times this season. If the Cardinals can get some big plays on the ground it will open things up for the Cardinals offensively
• Win the turnover battle

Key Match-up
Louisville's rush offense (#59 NCAA, 154.5 YPG) vs. Utah's rush defense (#78 NCAA, 153.3 YPG)

My Prediction
The Utes should be fired up heading into today's game against Louisville after losing their first game since 2007 last week to Oregon. Matt Asiata is closer to full strength, so look for him to get the ball more than he did last week (only 17 touches against Oregon). The Ute offense will likely go back to basics to help Cain regain some confidence early on.

Aided by a loud, sell-out crowd at Rice-Eccles, the Utes should be able to bounce back and get back into the win column. It won't be as easy as some are predicting as Louisville is looking far improved from their last two seasons, but I still think the Utes win.

MY PREDICTION: Utah 38, Louisville 24. Let me know what you think. Post your predictions/questions in the comment board.

Did any of you see the Oregon-Cal game? Oregon throttled the 6th ranked Cal Golden Bears 42-3...

Utah Miscellaneous Stats

• Utah is just 66% (8-12) in red zone scoring percentage, while giving up 87.5% (7-8) to their opponents
• Utah ranks 29th in the nation in total offense (438.3) and 30th in rushing offense (201.0).
• The Utes are fourth in the country in time of possession (33:54).
• QB Terrance Cain ranks second in the Mountain West Conference in total offense (290.3 yards per game) and fourth in passing offense (237.3 yards per game).
• RB Matt Asiata leads the MWC and ranks 26th in the nation in rushing (101.3 yards per game).
• The Utes rank second in the nation (first in the MWC) in opponent third down conversions, allowing just 6-of-38 for 15.8%.
• Utah is 6-0 all-time against current members of the Big East. The Utes are 3-0 vs. Louisville and 1-0 vs. Pittsburgh, South Florida and West Virginia.

Louisville Miscellaneous Stats

• The Cardinals are +3 in turnover margin
• Head Coach Steve Kragthorpe is 3-8 on the road and is 5-7 in games decided by seven points or less.
• The Cardinals have lost their last four road games. Louisville's last road win was a 35-28 decision at Memphis on Oct. 10, 2008.
• Louisville is 4-11 against Mountain West Conference teams. They are 1-0 vs. BYU; 1-2 vs. Colorado State; 0-3 vs. Utah and 1-3 vs. TCU and Wyoming.
• Under Kragthorpe, the Cardinals are 0-9 when scoring fewer than 24 points.

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