FINAL Cardinals 33-23 Gators
Cardinals take a knee and It's OVER!
A Cardinals' helmet goes flying after playing was over. Meanwhile, Coach Strong gets showered!
1:32 remaining in the game--- Louisville is getting Gatorade bucket ready on sideline.. .There's a flag on the play
1st & 10 WRIGHT TAKES IT UP THE MIDDLE AGAIN! First down!
Kickoff comes.... Onsie kick. NOPE! Doesn't work again
From shotgun... DRISKEL GETS TAKEND OWN FROM BEHIND!!! SACK!
Will go for the two-point conversion and have to go for the on side kick.
3rd & GOAL Driskel to pass! HAS OPEN RECEIVER! Taylor was WIIIIIDE OPEN!
2nd & GOAL TIMEOUT FLORIDA!--- Hines in trouble!!! Gets run out of bounds at the five.
2nd & 10 Jones was going for 2nd TD of the game and 1st & GOAL for the Gators. Briskel pathetically tries QB sneak
1st & 10 shotgun, looks left. Runs right. Hits target, NO! Hammond drops it as ball is beyond outstretched arms. ANOTHER injured Cardinal on the ground.
1st & 10 incomplete pass left! ...2nd & 10 at Cards' 45 Driskel pressured. Against hits receiver. Dunbar on his knees. 3:28 remaining team runs up the field at Cards' 19
3rd & 1 FIRST DOWN! Hammond with 11 yards... 1st & 10 TIMEOUT as Cardinals player injured
2nd & 3 Driskel scampers for about two yards and falls short of first down.
1st & 10 Driskel goes left with the pass.. First down! 1st & 10 OWN 35 shotgun, Driskel sets, throws. gain of seven
2nd & 10 Gillislee gains 17! Takes it out to OWN 20 to give team breathing room.
6:07 remaining in the game!-- Down by 16. Driskel pressured is almost sacked for the safetey AND THEN ALMOST INTERCEPTED!
Believe it or not, this is the first punt for Louiville.... Ball downed on OWN 3!
3rd & 11 incomplete pass to Dominguez... Cardinals quickly get off the field... PUNT coming
1st & 10 gain of one on the run up the middle... 2nd & 9 i formation. Fake. Bridgewater tries to step out f the pocket, but gets taken down. Elam again on the stop.
7:41 remaining in the game--- Another onside kick! Ball goes out of bounds... 15-yard penalty on Gators... Onside kick fails AGAIN
THE GATORS RETURN THE KICKOFF!!! They answer right back and get 7 in a lightening strike. Debose takes it 100 yards for the score.
FG GOOD! Finally Cardinals get on the board after first play in third quarter.
2nd & 4 loss of yardage... 3rd & 8 pass thrown too high as ball is overthrown
1st & 10 gain of about six yards as play once again goes up the middle.
1st & 10 WRIGHT TAKES IT RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE! Wright inside the red zone!
1st & 10 and again, the Cardinals are milking the clock.
2nd & 10 incomplete pass--------------- 3rd & 10 FIRST DOWN! Cardinals at midfield
1st & 10 first down play immediately... gain of 10 yards and more... 1st & 10 Bridgewater hurried and overthrows receiver.
2nd & 10 shotgun Burton runs it. Keeps it. Gains 2 yards... 2nd & 8 GATORS INTERCEPTED IN OWN END ZONE!!! There goes the momentum. Johnson No. 15 takes advantage of the tipoff! Runs it back to Cardinals' OWN 21
1st & 10 shotgun... Driskell ends up on the ground AGAIN! Ends up getting ball away before the sack.
TRICK PLAY! Gators on the end around and they are at the Cardinals' 11!
--------------------------END OF THE THIRD QUARTER---------------------------
1st & 10 Gators in the Wild Cat.. Barely gain anything...
1st & 10 Gillislee runs it for 11! First down! ARE THE GATORS TURNING THINGS AROUND? OR IS IT TOO LATE?
1st & 10 Bridgewater overthrows Copeland... 2nd & 10 ball tipped and intercepted!!!
PUNT Dominguez brings it back for around six... Cardinals will start from OWN 40
3rd & 10 shotgun.. DRISKEL CAN'T ESCAPE NOW!!!! Ranking in on the sack! Definitely can't go for 4th now. AND! A Louisville fan mockingly does the Gator chomp
2nd & 10 Driskel goes deep. Floyd No. 19 not Calvin, applies big hit and takes the worst of it as he was kneed in the head by Hines
1st & 10 Driskely avoids sack and throws ball away.
1st & 10 Gators push ball and quickly get first down... 2:55 remaining in the 3rd quarter---
2ND FG NO BUENO! Score remains the same and the Cardinals can't punch another score. FG looks like it was blocked.
Chop block on Cardinals. 15-yard penalty. FG coming again...
3rd & 7 incomplete pass to the right..... Cardinals were going to the end zone.... FLAG after FG is made.
2nd & 8 gain of one yard by Wright and then he's pushed back.
3rd & 5 Wright gets the short pass and gets the first down. Wright botches the snap. they still gain a yard.
2nd & 5 Wright finally gets stopped in this drive... 3rd & 5 from Gators 21... Bridgewater bounces around O'line calling play. Play clock running down. TIMEOUT CARDINALS!
1st & 10 7:13 remainin on in the third quarter--- gain of four yards by Wright
Okay, just short of first down. 3rd & 1 power through for the first down. Gain close to three yards on short gain.
1st & 10 Dominguez dropped for the loss. 2nd & 10. Delayed handoff. WRIGHT LOSES HELMENT BUT GETS 1ST DOWN! Elam on the hit.
3rd & 3 Butler with the leap as he follows Bridgewater to the right to open up the field as the pocket scrambled. Butler leaped and ran way beyond the first down and well into Gators' territory
2nd & 10 Bridgewater learning from last possession, gets the quick pass out and gains close to 7 yards
Gator player injured on the ground. Damien Jacobs defensive lineman slow to get up for the Gators.
1st & 10 Copeland can't make the grab. Pass tipped around and almost intercepted
1st & 10 Cardinals... FIRST SUCCESSFUL RUN OF THE GAME! Wright takes it right up the middle
4th & 4... PUNT! Christy in the backfield--- Dominguez with the fair catch at OWN 21
3rd & 4 Driskel goes deep!! Burton wide open, but the ball isn't on the money. Ball is almost intercepted
Smith No. 91 always whacked the ball out of Driskel's arm
2nd & 18 Driskel somehow gets the pass off! Gain of about 14
2nd & 3 Unsportsmanlike Conduct on Florida bench for being "in the white." They giveth and taketh away today.
12:27 to play in the 3rd quarter--- from OWN 26. Quick slant. Reed with the catch. Gain of about 7
43-YARDER NO GOOD! The worst possession the Cardinals have had all game. Can they bounce back or will they lose momentum? They get nothing and it's still a three-touchdown game
3rd & GOAL pushed back to Gators 18 AND THE CARDINALS USE THIS POSSESSION TO LOSE YARDAGE!! FG coming
2nd & GOAL WHOA! Bridgewater can't pull the trigger. GATORS EAT!!!! Sacked for a huge loss!
1st & GOAL Gators look completely confused. The Cardinals run it AN THE GET STOPPED! Loss of two
1st & GOAL Cardinals.... WHISTLES BLOW! TIMEOUT FLORIDA!
Guess who was there for the hit? Mr. Pick Six Calvin Pryor!
2nd & 6 shotgun abandoning the run. BALL IS TIPPED INTO THE AIR!!! FUMBLE!!! Cardinals recover! Driskel was hit as he recovered! Cardinals take it to the Gators' 4
1st & 10 Gators go up tempo and pick up four on quick pass
Break from the action-- Evans was on the tackle. Purifoy was tackled and is helped off the field
Gators to receive--- Return broken up and Gators down at OWN 18. Players injured after kickoff. Currently being tended to.
8 seconds in and the Cardinals score. Brigewater patiently waited for Copeland. Copeland was running slant and go. Thrown where only he could catch it for the touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN COPELAND!! Wow. Onside kick blows up in Gators' faces.
1st & 10 WITHOUT HESITATING IN THE 2ND HALF THE CARDINALS ARE ALREADY ON THE BOARD!
Chris Johnson has been ejected from the game after a skirmish at midfield after an onside kick by the Gators
The 2nd half is soon kicking off. Can the Gators mount a comeback?
And here's the Legend. The World's Greatest.
And here's the first play of the game.
--------------------------------------------------------END OF THE 1ST HALF-------------------------------------------------------------
TOUCHBACK--- Louisville takes a knee
There were six players on the field for each team. Jones ran it right up the gut!
TOUCHDOWN GATORS!!! ---PAT GOOD!
:13 seconds remaining--- FG UNIT NOT ON THE FIELD! ..... JONES RUNS IT IN! Weird formation and the Gators get creative!
3rd & GOAL... No more timeouts for either team... fake the run. Throw to the corner. WOW! Broken up by the Cardinals! What a stop!
2nd & GOAL Burton in for the Wild Cat.... He goes to the right. Wants to throw it. Burton runs. Gets down to the two yard line. THERE WAS NOBODY OPEN!
:35 seconds remaining: QB Draw.... Briskely gets down to the three... 2nd & GOAL TIMEOUT GATORS!
1st & GOAL-- -- TIMEOUT LOUISVILLE!
Florida still have two timeouts.
45 seconds remaining-- 1st & 10. Briskel takes it to the outside and gets the first down before getting touched.
2nd & 4 Briskel fakes the pass and runs it up the middle for the first down! INSIDE THE RED ZONE!
TIMEOUT GATORS! They are moving. They slow it down now. 1:04 remaining in the first half---- Half to score here as Cardinals get ball back first...
1st & 10 blitz comes. Receiver flattened! Catch is good for six yards.
1st & 10 from Cards' 45 shotgun... pass to the flat. Hines with the grab and the first down!
1st & 10 hurry-up offense Hammond with the first down grab and the Gators are in Cardinals' territory
Emmitt Smith looks on... 2nd & 7 Briskel doesn't eye receiver and they get the first down
Gators receive and will start at OWN 25 1st & 10 gain of three on the play
WHOA!!!! Parker dove and sneaked in his left foot in play and planted it in the end zone.
PARKER DIVES! HE CATCHES!.... They wait.. TOUCHDOWN! Flag on the play... Pass interference on Gators.
3rd & 13 Another timeout taken by Louisville... might as well use them...
Run again goes nowhere and they lose three yards... 2nd & 13 ball thrown away into the end zone
1st & 10 ball placed at the Gators' 12. TIMEOUT CARDINALS with 3:55 left in the 2nd quarter---
2nd & 10 Wright gets rocked by own man. And goes straight to the ground before getting to the line of scrimmage.... FACEMASK on Gators!
1st & 10 Over throws Harrington. Was going for the end zone....
These guys are making the right plays and milking the clock. 4:25 remaining in the first half---
2nd & 15 Bridgewater talks to his line... shotgun. With time. Steps up. Parker breaks a tackle and goes for 17 for first down and more!
1st & 10 Another loss of yards. This time for a botched run play. Gain of five.
2nd & 15. Player for Gators helped off the field.... shotgun. Quick pass. Bad tackle Smith takes it to Gators 35-yard line!
1st & 10 Bridgewater gets sacked! He had no time and nowhere to go!
Just under 7 minutes remaining in the half---
PUNT!-- Dominguez makes defender miss and he brings it back five yards.
3rd & 18 Driskel gets hit as the Cardinals bring the heat! Incomplete pass and the ball is dropped!
DRISKEL WON'T GO DOWN BUT SMITH WRESTLERS HIM TO THE GROUND! loss of six!
1st & 10 from OWN 28... Jones loses 2! 2nd & 12 coming now
Gators to receive--Will start at around OWN 30
FG GOOD! Looked extremely easy. 8:39 remaining in the half---
3rd & GOAL Bridgewater overthrows... 4th & GOAL.. FG coming about 27 yards
Now 2nd & GOAL from Gators 9.5.. Parker had no idea where the ball was going. Ball went to the back of the end zone and bounced off pilon.
2nd & 9 Gators completely fooled! Bit on the play action, hunted after the run and pass goes short and it's taken inside Gators' 10
1st & 10 from Gators- 26... Lamb tries to be patient, but only gained one
2nd & 1 Wright with the first down grab and the Cardinals are moving the ball easily.
1st & 10 in Gators Territory... Run play. Wow! Wright goes forward and keeps tumbling for a gain of nine yards!
2nd & 12 gain of about eight on quick pass. 3rd & 5 Bridgewater dances his way to the top of the pocket and shoots it for the first down!
Looks like they'll have to depend on the pass all night.
1st & 10 ball on OWN 37 shotgun.... Wright tripped up and loses a pair. Cardinals were trying to go for the fake
TOUCHBACK! Cardinals will start from OWN 25-- Boom! Already first down
As the Gators get on the board, the Cardinals get ready to receive...
4th DOWN Sturgis FG... 33-yarder is GOOD!
3rd & 13 pass tor Hammond... Incomplete! Again almost intercepted
--------------------------------------------END OF THE 1ST QUARTER-----------------------------------------------
3rd & 8 False start on offense.... Don't get snap off on time.
2nd & 9 Driskel tripped up. And Pryor on the stop! Gain of only 1
2nd & 4 Driskel Hands it ti Gillislee short of the firs. Gains about three. FLAG... Illegal formation. Five men in backfield 5-yard penalty
2nd & 4 coming up--- The Cardinals HAVE to tighten up their helmets. Another player races off the field.
Inside the Cardinals' 10 now
----Gators quickly now in the red zone... Burton was wide open in the side line.
1st & 10 run goes for eight. Burton takes it on the trick play! Only need 2 and ran it into Cardinals territory.
2nd & 9 shotgun, Driskel eyes receiver, but somehow gets it by defender and they gain 14.
1st & 10 from OWN 18. Gain of one by Gillislee
Here's the long awaited kickoff--- Caught at the five. Stopped at the 29... FLAGS fly-- Hold on Gators
Gators offense will now take the field. Have a chance to answer back and make this one a game.
There is a timeout on the field..... Referees discussing something on the field.
1st & GOAL-- WRIGHT GETS IT! Touchdown Cardinals NOW FOR REAL! O'line did a great job pushing the Gators back and creating a path for Wright who had only gained three yards all game on the ground
TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS!!!----- Wait, call beying reviewed. As Butler's knee went down, the ball was at the half yard line.
1st & 10 from Gators' 24 Play action! Short pass to Butler. BUTLER BULGES HIS WAY TO THE END ZONE!
3rd & 6 Bridgewater dances around and the Cardinals get a first down. Lamb with the catch and run
2nd & 17 Bridgewater and Cardinals' offense do their best RG3/Redskins imitation with pistol. Bridgewater keeps and gets 11 yards
2nd & 7 Blitz comng. Sack missed!! Incomplete pass to the end zone. Parker was the intended receiver.. FLAG DOWN... HOLDING! (That probably explains why the tackle was missed)
1st & 10 Jeremy Write loses helemt. Leaves the field. Wanted a facemask. Gain of 3.
3rd & 10 Shotgun... Bridgewater zig zags his way to the first down!
It will be 3rd and 10... 9:47 to play--- Don't know how refs didn't call a helmet-to-helmet on that last play
Original call was complete pass. Play under review.
1st & 10 Wright again no gain. NOTHING available... Wow! Dominguez looked like he dropped an easy pass. GETS POPPED! And still holds on. Looked a bit of helmet-to-helmet
3rd & 14 Bridgewater THROWS A BULLET TO ROGERS! First down and the Cardinals are in Gator territory.
2nd & 10 Bridgewater avoids first contact from Easley but can't keep balance and gets sacked. Loss of about four.
1st & 10 from OWN 32... Bridgewater dazed, but still on the field. WOW! The Gators running defense all over the run game. No gain again on the run
Roughing the passing on Bostic.
2nd & 10 Bridgewater drops back.. Ball is caught! But it was made out of bounds... FLAG!
1st & 10 Wright takes it up the gut and gets violently tackled for NO gain
4th & 4 PUNT--- Fair catch at the 16. Cardinals offense takes the field for the first time 13:11 to play in the first--
3rd & 4 Pass too hot to hodl for Gillislee. FOURTH DOWN!
2nd & 10 pass in the flat. Tackle missed. Gain of six
1st & 10 from OWN 35 now for the Gators. Gillislee gets the run and goes nowhere
PAT coming--- GOOD!---
Leaping Cardinal defenseman at the line created the turnover as he leaped and forced Driskel to adjust throw.
1st & 10 Shotgun. INTERCEPTION!! Floyd! Touchdown LOUISVILLE!!! 15 seconds in and we have our first score of the game. Ball was tipped by receiver and landed right in the hands of No. 19 Floyd!
Here is the kickoff!!! The Gators will start at their OWN 32!
The Cardinals win the toss! They elect to defer and the Gators will receive
The Great Muhammad Ali at midfield as a representative of the Cardinals
Pregame coverage--- Kickoff is just minutes away.
The Louisville Cardinals are out on the field.... And here come the Florida Gators.
The Star Spangled Banner has been sung. Six Appeal sang a disastrous version of the U.S. national anthem.
--------------------------Welcome to the live blog of the Sugar Bowl-----------------------------
This might not be the BCS Bowl, but the 2013 Sugar Bowl presents a must-watch matchup featuring the Louisville Cardinals and the Florida Gators live from the Superdome in New Orleans. Kickoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET and we have the live blog of the game with play-by-play and up to the minute scoring updates.
The No. 4 Gators felt they deserved a shot at the BCS National Championship, but they will have to settle for the Sugar Bowl prize. At 11-1, their chance at being champions will remain in the hands of Louisville who ranked 22nd in the nation after posting a 10-2 record in 2012.
Not enough can be said about the anticipation created by this matchup as Louisville's head coach, Charlie Strong, will face the former team he coached and won championships with on two occasions. Strong was the defensive coordinator of the Gators when they were national champions.
After jumping out to a 9-0 start, the Cardinals and Strong struggled at the end of the season and almost dropped three consecutive games. They managed to defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the last game of the season in a tight 20-17 victory.
There should be enough offense in this one as the Cardinals ranked close to 300 yards over the air and over 120 on the ground helping them average 31 points per game, but that will depend on the Gators' great defense.
For the Gators, it has been a season dictated by defense as they allowed the 3rd fewest points in the league at just under 13 points per game. On offense they are about their running game as they average close to 200 yards on the ground per matchup. The most points they allowed in a game was 26 to the Florida St. Seminoles in their final game of the season.
The action will kickoff soon. In the mean time you can check out some of the latest stories of the day and some of our favorite stories of lists we compiled during the year that was 2012.
Once the game starts, refresh the page and scroll to the top of the article for the latest of the latest scoring updates and plays from this game.
