No. 16 SMU took a 17-14 edge over No. 23 Louisville into halftime at L&N Stadium, with Kendrick Raphael and Kevin Jennings powering the Mustangs while the Cardinals kept answering enough to stay within a field goal.
Raphael set the tone right away. SMU opened with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, and the running back did most of the damage himself, ripping off a 40-yard run on the first snap and finishing the series with a two-yard touchdown to make it 7-0. By halftime, he had 11 carries for 81 yards and a score, plus one catch for seven yards.
Louisville answered with a long drive of its own. The Cardinals needed 12 plays to cover 75 yards, and Lincoln Kienholz finished it with a one-yard QB sneak to tie the game. Kienholz had 89 total yards and two touchdowns at the break, while Keyjuan Brown carried the load on that possession with five runs for 44 yards.
SMU then gave Louisville a chance by going for it on fourth-and-2 at its own 33 and coming up short. The Cardinals quickly turned that into points, moving four plays from the SMU 30 to a 33-yard touchdown pass from Kienholz to Lawayne McCoy that put Louisville ahead 14-7.
The lead didn’t last long. Jennings helped SMU answer with a seven-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown throw to Yamir Knight that tied things at 14-14 with 13:12 left in the second quarter. Jennings had 132 passing yards, a touchdown and an interception at halftime.
Louisville had one last opening before the break, getting the ball at its own 14 with 1:49 left, but the Cardinals used only 35 seconds and gave it right back. SMU then moved five plays for 21 yards and ended the half with a 46-yard field goal to go back in front 17-14.
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Lincoln Kienholz Just Delivered Louisville's Biggest Moment Against SMU
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Kienholz was efficient in the first half and also added a rushing score, giving Louisville the kind of dual-threat presence that can change a game in a hurry. The play that stood out most came when he turned a broken protection into a big gain downfield, a snapshot of the improvisation and calm that have made him such an important piece for the Cardinals already. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville May Have Found The Backfield Spark It Desperately Needed
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Isaac Brown, meanwhile, entered the season with plenty of expectations but had a much quieter day, finishing with just eight carries for 37 yards. That contrast leaves Louisville with an intriguing question moving forward: whether the Cardinals have finally found the spark they needed, and how they choose to balance the workload if this is more than a one-game jolt. [Read more 🡒]