Those Louisville playoff chances? We were just about to kiss those goodbye. Virginia (yes, the Virginia that lost to FCS Richmond) battled back to almost knock off the Cardinals and give Bronco Mendenhall a signature win in his first year as head coach. Lamar Jackson said not so fast though, throwing this pretty ball for a 29-yard TD to give his team a 32-25 win.
Lamar Jackson threw this gorgeous rainbow to save Louisville against Virginia
Jackson amazes again.
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Because of that, we have the redux of schadenfreude concerning our friends at Virginia. We’ve got to laugh at your pain, and I’m sorry about that.
The Cavs let certain epic upset victory slip away for the second season in a row.
With the game on the line on fourth down, Virginia had a huge pass to keep the drive alive and get the Cavs to the 4-yard line. From there, a quick-strike touchdown brought Virginia within an extra point of a tie game and a potential overtime situation. Then this happened:
Bronco Mendenhall rolled the damn dice and it came up with sevens (or more accurately, twos) to give Virginia the lead. Just like last year against Notre Dame, we were ready to celebrate with the Cavs, but it wasn’t meant to be.
The Cavs led by ten early on before Louisville took the lead, and then it happened.
But then Jackson did the things we all love him for.
He engineered the game-winning drive just like he’s done so often this season. He accounted for 68 yards on the final 80-yard TD drive. He ran, he threw, he extended plays that looked relatively doomed for other more mortal college football players.
Jackson finished with 361 total yards passing in addition to 90 yards rushing. There’s a reason he’s the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman trophy and nothing today changed that.
Even in their pain, UVa fans can appreciate the brilliance that is Lamar Jackson. Even if he’s dancing all over their upset hopes and dreams.
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