Cunningham's 2 TDs lift Louisville over Pittsburgh 24-10
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Malik Cunningham threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to little-used tight end, Josh Lifson, Kei'Trel Clark returned a sack-fumble 59 yards for an insurance TD and Louisville beat Pittsburgh 24-10 on Saturday night for its second consecutive victory.
Cunningham picked up his second TD after a 33-yard catch-and-run on a pass from receiver Braden Smith to the Panthers' 11. Two plays later a wide-open Lifson scooped up a low pass for just his second catch at Louisville and first score to make it 14-10 with 9:45 remaining. James Turner's 48-yard field goal provided a seven-point cushion before Yassir Abdullah sacked Kedon Slovis and forced a fumble that Clark returned for the clinching score.
Cunningham also tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marshon Ford early in the second quarter and finished with 122 yards two weeks after missing a game with concussion-like symptoms. The fifth-year senior was shaken up late in the first half after another hard hit and missed the Cardinals' first series of the second half but came back to convert two big plays for Louisville (4-3, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference).
The Panthers (4-3, 1-2) led 10-7 after Ben Sauls' 37-yard field goal late in the third quarter but committed four turnovers. Slovis was responsible for three, tossing two interceptions along with the fumble.
Israel Abanikanda rushed 28 times for 129 yards, including a 12-yard TD run, after rushing for a school-record 320 yards against Virginia Tech last time out.
THE TAKEAWAY
Pittsburgh: The Panthers outgained Louisville 326-312 but couldn't get out of their way with turnovers. The defense bottled up Cunningham for much of the game but was caught off guard by the receiver pass to Cunningham. With it went a chance for a second consecutive win.
Louisville: The Cardinals' defense initially gave up space to Abanikanda but limited him and the Panthers' ground game and forced four turnovers. The offense couldn't seize those chances because of sluggish play but awoke in the fourth quarter and converted a trick play to set up the key score.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: The Panthers visit No. 22 North Carolina on Saturday
Louisville: The Cardinals host No. 13 Wake Forest on Saturday.