PREVIEW: Louisville Cardinals visit NC State
On Saturday, the Louisville Cardinals (1-3, 0-1) visit Carter-Finley Stadium for a much-anticipated game against North Carolina State (4-0, 0-0). Though the Cardinals don’t have the record many expected they would have entering this game, Louisville still poses a lethal threat to the Wolfpack’s unblemished record.
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Angry Birds
Two to the Cardinals’ 3 losses have come against ranked opponents (Auburn and Clemson). Most surprisingly two of their losses were at home in the confines of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. The Auburn loss was at a neutral site in Atlanta. The Saturday contest in Raleigh will be the Cardinals’ first true road game.
In the Clemson loss, the Cardinals had a paltry 19 yards rushing on 28 attempts and a total of 272 offensive yards. Last weekend, Louisville seemingly corrected some of their troubles with a 45-3 win over Samford. In that game freshman quarterback Lamar Jackson set a school rushing record (for a QB) with 184 yards, 212 yards passing and two touchdowns in his second collegiate start.
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In his third season at the Wolfpack helm, head coach Dave Doeren (15-14) see’s his best opportunity to breakthrough in what may be his biggest game yet for the Pack. Not because of the opponent, but rather because of the chance to be 5-0 and on the cusp of Top 25 recognition at the mid-point of the season. This is huge.
The Pack is off to an excellent offensive start with junior running back Matt Dayes carrying the load and redshirt senior quarterback Jacoby Brissett playing efficient turnover free football.
Incentive for Saturday’s game is the memory of a hard-fought defeat 30-18 last year at Louisville.
The troubled senior running back Shadrach Thornton was dismissed from the NC State football team yesterday after being arrested in a scooter incident that involved Thornton and a pedestrian. Thornton was operating the scooter that hit Jimmie Woodard on Avent Ferry Road near campus. Thornton apparently left the scene without stopping.
Thornton has also had several other brushes with the law that include assault on a female, two possession of marijuana charges, pending helmet and speeding charges (moped). Thornton just returned last week from a two game suspension for violating unspecified team rules.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren: “It’s an unfortunate set of circumstances, but we’ve made the decision to dismiss Shadrach from our program.”
Where:Carter-Finley Stadium
When: 12:30 PM
TV: ACC Network