Harrison Bailey threw for three touchdowns Tuesday and Louisville held off Washington 35-34 to win the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Bailey was more efficient than spectacular, completing 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards, but also directed a turnover-free offense that boasted good balance. The Cardinals (9-4) rushed for 207 yards, getting 99 yards from freshman Isaac Brown and 83 from another freshman, Duke Watson.
The Huskies (6-7) got a big game from quarterback Demond Williams, who shrugged off an early pick-six to hit 26 of 32 attempts for 374 yards and four scores. Giles Jackson shredded the Louisville secondary for 11 catches, 161 yards and all four touchdowns.
Bailey snapped a 21-21 tie on a 21-yard touchdown strike to wide-open tight end Nate Kurisky with 4:46 left in the third quarter. Louisville made it 35-21 less than three minutes later on an 8-yard scoring jaunt by Caullin Lacy.
Williams found Jackson over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 left in the game to get the Huskies within a score. They got within a point with nine seconds left when Williams hit Jackson on fourth-and-goal for a 1-yard strike but the two-point pass for the win was knocked away by Antonio Watts.
After two 15-yard celebration penalties on the Cardinals, Washington tried an onside kick from their 35 but the ball was knocked out of bounds with four seconds remaining.
Tahveon Nicholson gave Louisville a 7-0 lead 2:45 into the game, picking off Williams and lugging it 21 yards for a touchdown. But Williams responded with a 40-yard strike to Jackson at the 8:09 mark.
Bailey made it 14-7 with 27 seconds left in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lacy but Williams and Jackson hooked up from 49 yards out with 8:10 remaining in the half.
Bailey’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Meeks gave the Cardinals a 21-14 edge but Williams rushed for a 7-yard score with 51 seconds left, tying the game at halftime.
–Field Level Media
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