Louisville (5-3, 3-2) 31, Boston College (4-4, 1-3) 27.

Good.

Cardinals came back from a pretty much self induced 20 point deficit to posit themselves a victory away from this year’s realistic goal: Bowl Eligibility.

Been to Shreveport in December?

But, frankly, this game was meh.

Another escape against a mediocre conference rival, a W that by most all accounts should have been easier.

The Eagles turned a couple Cardinal turnovers, and some defensive secondary ineptitude into a 20 zed advantage. The Cardinal offense was, as it has disturbingly been too often, out of sync early.

The first two BC tallies through the air saw receivers as wide open as a lonely jogger through Boston Commons.

Louisville’s touchdown a smidge over a minute left before halftime righted the ship somewhat. And arguably was the key score of the game.

How do matters play out if U of L heads to a Brohm tongue lashing in the locker room fully skunked?

Co D Coordinator Mark Hagen, D Secondary Coach Steve Ellis and the fella who for some reason is catching most of the fan’s flack when he’s not alone, Co D Coordinator Ron English got some ‘splainin’ to do.

How come a unit that played stalwartly when under the gun down 14 midway through the 3d, display such ineptitude prior?

By the by, that first Eagle score after the break was through the air and the third time a receiver could look around and not see a Cardinal to the horizon.

But — here’s the good part — D leaders Ashton Gillote and T.J. Quinn with help from others finally stiffened, shutting down the homestanders for the last quarter and a half.

U of L scoreboarded the final 21 points of the affair to head home with a smile.

Helped, it must be stated, by some seriously woeful punting. Though, it also must be stated, while the two BC guys averaged a meager 35+ per kick, the Cards pair were worse. By three yards per punt.

Washington DC’s Nate Kurisky and Union County’s Kris Hughes — names we haven’t heard a lot — stepped up hugely. The former with two grabs, both scores. The latter with three receptions.

Ja’Corey Brooks is good. 8 catches for 120 yards.

Once again, the Cardinals were outrushed. Though frosh phenom Isaac Brown (502Circle, you payin’ attention?) reached paydirt a couple times, and juked and bulled his way for 85 yards.

31-27. Fine. Move on to next. Which happens to be . . . brace thyselves . . .

. . . a visit to Death Valley, the one in South Carolina, not Louisiana, to play an orange school Louisville has never beaten.

— c d kaplan