No. 23 Louisville eventually runs away from No. 16 SMU in thrilling ACC tilt that featured 7 lead changes

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AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley

In a matchup between maybe the two biggest challengers to No. 5 Miami in the ACC this season, the momentum relentlessly seesawed. The lead changed seven times Saturday, but No. 23 Louisville outlasted No. 16 SMU 41-31 at home.

Explosive runs gave the Cardinals (2-1, 1-0 ACC) the last laughs, and their defense kicked in late to turn the Mustangs (2-1, 1-1) over on their final three drives: first on downs, then via a fumble and ultimately with a game-clinching interception.

SMU struck first blood, stringing together a game-opening touchdown drive that culminated in the first of Kendrick Raphael’s three touchdowns. The Cal transfer running back mounted 197 yards on the ground during his banner afternoon.

Louisville countered with 14 straight points. Lincoln Kienholz had a hand in both of those touchdowns. He punched the rock in for the first and showcased his electrifying improvisation skills on the second. Building on his rapidly expanding highlight reel, the former Ohio State quarterback evaded a free runner in the knick of time, rolled right and located wideout Lawayne McCoy for a 33-yard touchdown.

Kienholz, part of a Louisville offense that still hasn’t turned the ball over this season, finished 14 of 23 with 177 passing yards and two touchdowns. Plus, he tallied 42 yards and an additional score with his legs.

It was Rhett Lashlee’s Mustangs, though, who were in front when halftime arrived. Thanks to a 19-yard touchdown made possible by a backpedaling Kevin Jennings and a wide open Yamir Knight, as well as a 46-yard Nick Reed field goal, SMU entered the break up 17-14.

From there, the pendulum just kept on swinging.

Rushing touchdowns were traded by Louisville’s Keyjuan Brown and SMU’s Raphael, with Brown breaking away for a 58-yard score and Raphael surging 25 yards for pay dirt.

When all was said and done, Brown had 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns on a mere 10 carries.

The exchanging of blows continued, as Kienholz delivered a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jaleel Skinner, and Raphael rumbled into the paint from 12 yards out.

Even though offense was at the heart of the contest, defense opened the window for the Cardinals to stretch their wings.

Following a second 50-plus-yard Keyjuan Brown rushing touchdown, Louisville turned SMU over on downs. The Mustangs opted for trickery on a fourth-and-2 from the Cardinals’ 37-yard line. SMU pivoted to its Wildcat package, in which tight end Randy Pittman Jr. — who took snaps at quarterback in high school — threw the ball back to Jennings.

Louisville defensive back Jabari Mack forced Jennings inside, and fellow DB Koen Entringer met him well shy of the first-down marker.

Two plays later, Kienholz uncorked a 44-yard deep ball for wideout Tre Richardson. And two plays after that, Louisville running back Isaac Brown wowed with a juke and then his jets en route to a 27-yard rushing touchdown.

Louisville missed the subsequent extra point, except it didn’t matter. The Cardinals’ defense delivered again and again to protect the 10-point lead.

First, Louisville defensive back Brycen Scott denied Jennings a rushing touchdown by popping the ball loose from his grasp, leading to a touchback.

Jennings turned the ball over once more when, out of desperation, he chucked the ball downfield for Knight. Kaleb Beasley won out for the interception. That was Jennings’ second pick of the game. He hit on 24-of-35 attempts for 222 passing yards and tacked on 35 more yards in the rushing category.

His chances of returning to the ACC championship game, and even the College Football Playoff, took a hit at Louisville’s L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Meanwhile, the Cardinals — who don’t have to play Miami or Notre Dame — have a clear path to Charlotte, at the very least.

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