Bridgewater leads Louisville closer to Orange Bowl
Johnny Football might be the most popular college quarterback in the country, but Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater is arguably the grittiest.
Bridgewater, a former Miami Northwestern star, was hobbled by a broken left wrist and a sprained ankle when his team faced off against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J., for a share of the Big East title and a bid a BCS game late Thursday night.
Bridgewater, who did not enter the game until the second quarter, completed 20 of 28 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals defeated Rutgers, 20-17, before 52,798 at sold-out High Point Solutions Stadium.
“The reality is this: They have a tremendous playmaker at the quarterback position and the end of the game and during the game he made some great plays, and we weren’t able to match him at the end,” Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said. “They were a little better than we were.”
The question is will Bridgewater and many of his teammates who hail from the Miami get to come home for bowl season?
Louisville (10-2, 5-2) clinched at least a share of the Big East title. It will likely finish higher in the final BCS standings than Rutgers, Cincinnati and Syracuse to earn a BCS bid.
The Big East champion usually heads to the Orange Bowl, but a BCS rule could mean Louisville coach Charlie Strong and his players could face off against his former team — the Florida Gators — in the Sugar Bowl. Strong was a long-time defensive coordinator and star recruiter at UF before taking over at Louisville.
If No. 21 Northern Illinois moves up enough spots and finishes in the top 16 of the final BCS standings, it is guaranteed at atlarge bid to a BCS game. Since the Orange Bowl Committee hosts the BCS Championship Game, it gets last pick of the at-large bids. It is unlikely any other bowl will be quick to pick Northern Illinois.
The Huskies upset No. 17 Kent State 44-37 in double overtime Friday night. The Golden Flashes were more likely than Northern Illinois to finish in the top 16, but the matter won’t be settled until the final BCS standings are revealed Sunday night.
If Florida State loses to Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game, the Orange Bowl could face the grim task of selling tickets for a showdownbetweenNorthern Illinois and Georgia Tech.
It would much prefer FSU versus Louisville.
Bridgewater and his teammates did their part to show they deserve a special homecoming.
Nineteen of Strong’s players hail from South Florida. And still others grew up in different portions of the Sunshine State.
Fort Pierce Port St. Lucie grad Terrell Floyd madetwo key defensive plays during Louisville’s late rally against Rutgers.
The Cardinals trailed 14-3 late in the third quarter but finally found the end zone when Bridgewater capped a long drive with a 14-yard touchdown throw to Jere- my Wright. On the ensuing kickoff, Calvin Pryor recovered a fumble forced by Floyd, setting the Cardinals at the Rutgers 20.
Onthe next play, DeVante Parker beat double coverage when he jumped to catch Bridgewater’s floater in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score. The Scarlet Knights (9-3, 5-2) tied the game at 17 following an interception midway through the fourth quarter, but an interception on Rutgers’ next possession led to John Wallace’s go-ahead 29-yard field goal with1:41 remaining.
Rutgers attempted to mount a game-tying drive, but a miscommunication ona deep pass play led to an easy interception for Floyd and Louisville ran out the final 66 seconds.
Flood and his players were left to marvel at Bridgewater’s ability to play through pain.
“Some of those throws he made — I don’t know if anybody else in our league can make those throws,” Flood said.