This story will be updated.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hosting Georgia Tech for its first ACC game of the season, the Louisville football program was able to pull off a hard-fought victory despite several mistakes, scoring in all three phases of the game to secure a 31-19 victory Saturday at L&N Stadium.

After a week off, Louisville had to shake off some rust right from the start. The Cardinals managed just 72 yards on their first two drives of the game, including a blocked 53-yard field goal. Defensively, they forced Georgia Tech into a three-and-out on their first drive, but the Jackets cracked the scoreboard first on their next drive thanks to a 23-yard keeper from King.

Louisville got back into the swing of things after a slow start. After a great punt pinned Georgia Tech at the five-yard line, the Cardinals turned it into a defensive touchdown, with Riley intercepting a lateral pass and Puryear recovering the fumble in the end zone. After the Yellow Jackets then missed a 46-yard field goal of their own, Louisville turned it into a methodical attack that ended with a 37-yard touchdown catch for Bell to open the second quarter.

Louisville then forced another three-and-out and extended its lead with a 27-yard field goal, but Georgia Tech held on until halftime. With 1:56 left in the half, the Jackets were able to march down the field and score a one-yard Haynes touchdown from the goal line, leaving Louisville with a 17-14 halftime lead.

That slight momentum continued into the start of the second half. Several penalties derailed Louisville’s first drive of the half, and Georgia Tech responded with a time-wasting drive that ended in a 26-yard field goal to tie the game.

Then the momentum began to swing the other way. Louisville finally got an explosive offensive drive going, with Brooks overcoming pass interference to score a 57-yard touchdown. Tech was able to get to the goal line on the ensuing drive, but the Cardinals cobbled together a goal line stand and forced a turnover on downs at the one-yard line.

But then a potential disaster struck. On the Cardinals’ first play, Shough tripped over his own feet in the end zone, giving the Yellow Jackets a safety and the ball back.

But after a few games, the disaster turned into joy.

After forcing Georgia Tech into a long field goal attempt with 7:05 left in the fourth quarter, Holloway blocked the attempt and then ran the ball 55 yards the other way for a touchdown. The Cardinals then forced another turnover on the Jackets’ next possession, ran out the clock and pulled out the win.

Next up, Louisville will hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to South Bend for a big showdown with Notre Dame. Kickoff against the Fighting Iris is scheduled for Saturday, September 28th at 3:30 p.m. EST.

(Photo by Tyler Shough: Jamie Rhodes – Imagn Images)

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