Lamar Jackson's heroics save Louisville in 32-25 win over Virginia

With his team's season hanging in the balance, Lamar Jackson proved why he's the front-runner to win the Heisman Trophy.

The sophomore quarterback led Louisville on an 75-yard touchdown drive that allowed the Cardinals to turn a 25-24 deficit into a 32-25 victory over massive underdog Virginia. Although U of L's national profile will certainly take a hit, the drive also kept alive the 5th-ranked Cardinals' hopes of eventually playing in the College Football Playoff.

U of L appeared to be in control of the game after erasing a 17-7 second half Virginia lead to take a 24-17 advantage midway through the 4th quarter. The Cavaliers then strung together an impressive touchdown drive in which they converted on two 4th downs, as well as a 2-point conversion to seize the lead.

That gave Jackson and his offense the ball with 1:57 to play. After hitting Cole Hikutini on a 4th and 3 to keep the drive alive, Jackson connected with Jaylen Smith on a beautiful 29-yard touchdown strike to lock up U of L's seventh victory of the season. Jackson and Smith then hooked up again on the succeeding 2-point conversion to set the game's final score.

Let's all drink 90 beers and then never speak of this again.

Here's your final box score:

Louisville Passing

	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Lamar Jackson	24/41	361	8.8	4	1
TEAM	24/41	361	8.8	4	1

Virginia Passing

	C/ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	INT
Kurt Benkert	25/39	238	6.1	3	2
Taquan Mizzell	0/1	0	0.0	0	0
TEAM	25/40	238	5.9	3	2

Louisville Rushing

	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Lamar Jackson	18	90	5.0	0	37
Brandon Radcliff	14	54	3.9	0	11
Traveon Samuel	1	5	5.0	0	5
Jeremy Smith	1	-2	-2.0	0	0
TEAM	34	147	4.3	0	37

Virginia Rushing

	CAR	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Taquan Mizzell	20	66	3.3	0	17
Kurt Benkert	7	17	2.4	0	9
Albert Reid	1	1	1.0	0	1
TEAM	28	84	3.0	0	17

Louisville Receiving

	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Jamari Staples	7	120	17.1	1	25
Cole Hikutini	6	89	14.8	0	28
Traveon Samuel	5	69	13.8	0	38
Jaylen Smith	2	45	22.5	1	29
Reggie Bonnafon	2	18	9.0	2	10
Seth Dawkins	1	16	16.0	0	16
Jeremy Smith	1	4	4.0	0	4
TEAM	24	361	15.0	4	38

Virginia Receiving

	REC	YDS	AVG	TD	LONG
Doni Dowling	5	70	14.0	2	42
Keeon Johnson	5	62	12.4	0	30
Taquan Mizzell	5	44	8.8	0	19
Andre Levrone	2	19	9.5	0	11
Ryan Santoro	2	19	9.5	0	12
Olamide Zaccheaus	4	14	3.5	1	9
Joe Reed	1	6	6.0	0	6
Evan Butts	1	4	4.0	0	4
TEAM	25	238	9.5	3	42

Louisville Interceptions

	INT	YDS	TD
Jaire Alexander	2	37	0
TEAM	2	37	0

Virginia Interceptions

	INT	YDS	TD
Quin Blanding	1	30	0
TEAM	1	30	0

Louisville Kick Returns

	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Malik Williams	2	50	25.0	27	0
TEAM	2	50	25.0	27	0

Virginia Kick Returns

	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Joe Reed	5	100	20.0	27	0
TEAM	5	100	20.0	27	0

Louisville Punt Returns

	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
No Louisville Punt Returns

Virginia Punt Returns

	NO	YDS	AVG	LONG	TD
Daniel Hamm	3	71	23.7	40	0
TEAM	3	71	23.7	40	0

Louisville Kicking

	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Blanton Creque	1/1	100.0	32	3/3	6
TEAM	1/1	100.0	32	3/3	6

Virginia Kicking

	FG	PCT	LONG	XP	PTS
Sam Hayward	1/2	50.0	27	2/2	5
TEAM	1/2	50.0	27	2/2	5

Louisville Punting

	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	IN 20	LONG
Mason King	5	189	37.8	0	1	58
TEAM	5	189	37.8	0	1	58

Virginia Punting

	NO	YDS	AVG	TB	IN 20	LONG
Nicholas Conte	5	233	46.6	0	3	52
TEAM	5	233	46.6	0	3	52