Jeff Brohm team rallies on the street

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – Louisville football lacked urgency early on, but its playmakers made up for it with a furious second-half comeback.

Ja'Corey Brooks and Isaac Brown were the driving forces in the Cardinals' 31-27 comeback win over Boston College on Friday night at Alumni Stadium.

Brooks led all receivers with consecutive 100-yard receiving performances, totaling 120 yards on eight receptions.

Louisville scored 24 points in the second half to avoid a fourth loss in five games. The Cardinals needed the win with a crowded schedule to end the season. They will be away from home for the next month and will face ninth-ranked Clemson next week.

Louisville (5-3, 3-2 ACC) was without starting receiver Caullin Lacy, who opted to redshirt. Ahmari Huggins-Bruce started in his place. Although Huggins-Bruce fumbled the ball in the second quarter, he totaled 87 yards on five receptions.

Brown scored the team's only score of the first half on a 4-yard run just before halftime. Brooks set up the touchdown with a 15-yard catch and had 54 yards and four receptions during the drive.

In the third quarter, Brooks stayed inbounds and scored a one-handed 44-yard grab. It set Louisville up for a first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. Two plays later, Tyler Shough connected with Nate Kurisky on a 4-yard touchdown pass, leaving the deficit 27-17. Shough also showed a strong performance in the second half. He totaled 333 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.

After the go-ahead 6-yard reception with 7:12 left, Kurisky hasn't had a single touchdown pass this season. Brown had a 15-yard run and Brooks had an 8-yard catch to set up the touchdown that gave Louisville its first lead at 31-27.

About three minutes earlier, Brown scored his second touchdown of Friday. He found gaps in the Eagles' defense and ran for an 18-yard score.

Louisville's defense did its part, holding Boston College (4-4, 1-3) to seven points in the second half after giving up 20 points in the first two quarters. Eagles quarterback Thomas Castellanos found an open Jeremiah Franklin in the back of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown at 7:58 of the third quarter.

From there, the Cardinals' defense forced four straight punts and a turnover on downs after cornerback Tayon Holloway deflected a pass in the end zone. BC had one final drive that started with 1:25 left in the regular season. The Eagles came away empty-handed as the Cardinals kept them out of the end zone.

Defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte recorded a season-high nine tackles, including 2½ for losses, to lead the Cardinals.

U of L's second half was a far cry from the poor first half performance.

Playing their first night game of the season, the Cardinals ended first-half drives with a turnover on downs, interception, punt, missed field goal and fumble before Brown's 4-yard touchdown run.

BC defensive end Quintayvious Hutchins terrorized U of L's offense, recording the interception and fumble recovery. The Eagles converted both turnovers into points. And two of their touchdowns came on fourth-down conversions.

But all was forgiven and forgotten as the Cardinals earned a decisive road win.

This story will be updated.

Reach out to Louisville football, women's basketball and baseball beat writer Alexis Cubit [email protected] and follow her on X at @Alexis_Cubit.

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