Perry, Cards out run the Panthers, 45-35

Touchdown Perry. Touchdown Perry. Touchdown Perry. Touchdown Perry. Some things don’t get old.

The Cards stayed with the Pitt Panthers in the first half at Heinz Field, and used two Senorise Perry third quarter touchdowns and a fourth quarter score to run away with the win 45-35.

In the first half the Cards and Panthers exchanged punches, going into half with Pittsburgh hanging on to a 21-17 lead.

On the first play from scrimmage in the second half Teddy Bridgewater found DeVante Parker deep down the sideline for a 75-yard touchdown hook up and the lead. Parker had the break out game many have been waiting for and finished with four receptions for 153 yards. Lots of big plays. The Cards held the second half lead the rest of the way, on the back of Perry.

Senorise Perry found the end zone four times Saturday to lead the Cards past the Panthers.

Perry and Jeremy Wright found a number of openings at the line of scrimmage and used a strong effort from the UofL offensive line to have big games. Wright and Perry combined for right around 200 yards of total offense and accounted for five of the Cards six touchdowns, with Wright finding the end zone once in the first half.

Despite throwing for only one touchdown Bridgewater had a great day at quarterback for the Cards. Teddy hooked up with nine different receivers and as he has shown all year was able to find openings all over the field. Maybe what the Cards QB did best was getting out of the pocket to avoid the rush and get rid of the ball to avoid sacks. Teddy threw for 304 yards and really kept the Cards drives going as they converted 7-of-12 third downs and one fourth down. Teddy hooked up with nine different receivers and as he has shown all year was able to find openings all over the field.

The fourth down conversion came on a fourth in long on Louisville’s side of the field as he hooked up with DeVante Parker t set up a last second first half field goal that gave the Cards huge momentum heading into half time.

The UofL defense played well enough to win, but didn’t win on third down. Pitt converted 8-of-14 third downs, a number that still needs to improve for Louisville.

Tino Sunseri had a strong game at QB for Pitt, but Rushel Shell stood out as Ray Graham struggled to get the run game going for Pitt. Shell, the freshman tailback was just shy of 100 yards rushing on the day and found the end zone once.

All season we have seen our punt attempts contested and today Pitt broke through to block one. In the first half Todd Thomas was unblocked strait through the middle and blocked and recovered a Louisville punt attempt for a 41 yard score. When Ryan Johnson wasn’t having his punt blocked he booted the ball pretty well. As conference play continues the protection on special teams will have to improve.