Despite not being the most popular of the college footballs bowl games, the 2014 Belk Bowl presented an exciting matchup between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Louisville Cardinals. On Dec 30th, the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina was host to these two 9-3 teams, marking the first time two top-20 programs had ever met in the Belk Bowl. For those fans who enjoy wagering on bowl games, those who ended up betting on the Georgia Bulldogs ended up with the best bets. The Bulldogs’ victory was a nice win feather in the cap of Georgia football programs.
The question before the game was whether or not Bobby Petrino’s sixth ranked Cardinals defense could stop the thrilling running attack of Mark Richt’s Bulldogs and counter with offense of their own, especially considering, their star running back, Michael Dyer, was ruled academically ineligible previous to the bowl game.
More than forty-five thousand football fans showed up to Bank of America to see these two commanding programs square off. The first quarter appeared as if this would be a close game, with Georgia’s Hutson Mason and Louisville’s Kyle Bolin each throwing for a touchdown. The quarter ended with the scored locked at 7-7. The second quarter is when things really got interesting when Mason, Georgia’s QB, left the game with an undisclosed injury, and coach Petrino benched his starting QB, Kyle Bolin, (after throwing two interceptions) for Reggie Bonnafon.
Even with Hutson Mason leaving the game, the Bulldogs dominated and the quarter ended with them leading 20-7. Georgia piled on another TD in the third, and Louisville countered with one of its own late in the quarter. The fourth quarter was all Bulldogs. It seemed as if all Bobby Petrino and his coaching staff could do was watch as Georgia tacked on another field goal and another Nick Chubb running touchdown. The game came to an end with the scoreboard reading: 37-14.
The Bulldogs ran for 301 yards against Louisville’s stout defensive unit, with 266 of those rushing yards coming from their stand-out freshman ball carrier, Nick Chubb. The Belk Bowl showcased the 5-foot-10, 228 pound Chubb’s talents to college football fans everywhere. Georgia fans have been seeing these fantastic running abilities ever since he became the red and black’s primary ball carrier, after former starter Todd Gurley was suspended.
Chubb’s 266 yards is a new Belk Bowl record, eclipsing the previous mark held for ten years. His running performance was also the second best in Georgia history, putting him right behind Herschel Walker in the record books. Chris Conley, Georgia’s star receiver, also turned in considerable day 4 catches, 80 receiving yards, and a long TD reception in the first quarter.
On the Louisville front, coach Bobby Petrino and his Cardinals could not do what they wanted to do on both the offensive and defensives sides of the ball. The Louisville Cardinals‘ game could be summed up with one play: when Petrino called a fake field goal at their own 31-yard line which resulted in an incomplete pass and Georgia gaining excellent field position. Louisville’s defense gave up four touchdowns and three field goals, but their offensive unit did have one standout performance.
DeVante Parker, the Cardinals’ highly touted receiver had an outstanding day, reeling in 8 catches for 120 receiving yards. The 2014 Belk Bowl allowed Parker to live up to his reputation as one of college football’s highest rated NFL receiving prospects. Although the game was not a success, Louisville should not feel disgruntled after a terrific, top-20 caliber football season.