Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - For a while it looked like another
Louisville blowout victory, but the Cardinals had to hold off a furious
fourth-quarter charge from North Carolina to notch their first 3-0 start since
2006.
Teddy Bridgewater tossed three first-half touchdowns and No. 19 Louisville
took a 39-34 win over the Tar Heels on Saturday.
Trailing 36-14 heading into the final 15 minutes, North Carolina quarterback
Bryn Renner fired three touchdown passes in the fourth. But his potential go-
ahead score to Erik Highsmith in the back of the end zone on 4th-and-goal from
the 4-yard line with 1:49 remaining was broken up by Cardinals cornerback
Andrew Johnson, which sealed the outcome for the hosts.
Bridgewater threw for 279 yards on 23-of-28 efficiency for the Cardinals
(3-0), who defeated in-state rival Kentucky, 32-14, in their opener before
blowing out Missouri State, 35-7, last Saturday.
Jeremy Wright carried the ball 20 times for 114 yards and a score, Senorice
Perry added 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground and Charles Gaines caught
five passes for 78 yards and a score in the win.
Renner completed 26-of-41 passes for 357 yards with five touchdowns and one
interception for North Carolina (1-2), which has lost two straight since
downing Elon in its opener. Romar Morris added 149 yards receiving and two
touchdowns on five receptions in defeat.
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