Wake Forest Rides Strong Running Game to 56-35 Win Over Louisville

Last year, Matt Colburn set a career high against Louisville with 134 yards and one touchdown in a 42-32 win against the Cardinals.

This year was no different. The senior rushed for a career-high 243 yards and three touchdowns, as Wake Forest (4-4) rolled to a 56-35 win over Louisville (2-6).

Louisville jumped on the board first with a 52-yard run from Trey Smith. But Wake Forest got a hat trick from true freshman quarterback Sam Hartman in the first quarter, rolling to a 21-7 first quarter lead. Hartman threw a pair of touchdowns, one to tight end Jack Freudenthal and a nine-yard slant to wide receiver Scotty Washington. Hartman also ran for a 12-yard touchdown, in between his touchdown passes.

In the second quarter, Louisville’s Trey Smith scored again on a one-yard run. However, Wake Forest’s Matt Colburn scored his first of three touchdowns, sprinting down the sideline on a 74-yard run. Louisville tried to get some momentum with a reverse play, but fumbled it and Wake Forest picked it up for a 23-yard scoop and score. Jawon Pass then threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Seth Dawkins, closing the first half with a 35-21 Wake Forest lead.

In the third quarter, Wake Forest pulled away with three touchdown runs. Colburn scored again on runs of 12 and 56 yards, while Cade Carney scored a one-yard run in between.

Louisville got a pair of touchdown runs in the third quarter as well. Hassan Hall scored on a 12-yard run, and Trey Smith scored his third and final touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard scamper.

Both teams finished with over 500 yards of offense (Wake Forest 591, Louisville 532), and Louisville scored a season-high with 35 points. But it came down to Louisville’s inability to stop Wake Forest’s tempo, and their offense failing to keep up with scoring drives. The Demon Deacons finished with 368 rushing yards on 7.7 yards per carry, led by Colburn’s stellar performance (20 carries, 243 yards, three touchdowns). Freshman quarterback Sam Hartman also had a stellar outing, completing 16-of-24 passes for 223 yards and three total touchdowns. Greg Dortch, who broke Wake Forest’s single-game receiving touchdown record last year against the Cardinals, finished with a game-high eight catches for 135 yards.

For Louisville, Jawon Pass finished 30-of-54 for 358 passing yards and one touchdown. Trey Smith led the Cardinals with 13 carries for 98 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. Tutu Atwell (eight catches, 132 yards) and Jaylen Smith (eight catches, 105 yards) led Louisville’s receivers with 100-yard games.

Up next, Louisville heads on the road to Death Valley, facing Clemson at high noon. May the football gods show mercy.