By GARY B. GRAVES
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Neither the rain nor Syracuse could slow quarterback Lamar Jackson or Louisville from dominating almost from the first snap.
Jackson had another big game against the Orange, accounting for 381 yards and four touchdowns and becoming the school’s career yardage leader while leading a rain-delayed 56-10 rout on Saturday.
The Heisman Trophy winner passed for 270 yards and two TDs and rushed for 111 with scores from 43 and 19 yards in just over three quarters. Jackson’s long run helped build a 21-3 lead before severe thunderstorms and lightning caused a 43-minute, second-quarter delay. The junior then put the game out of reach with TD passes of 72 and 34 yards to Jaylen Smith and Reggie Bonnafon respectively for a 35-3 halftime cushion.
“He didn’t have as many carries as he usually does, but he also had some great throws for touchdowns,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said of Jackson. “That was awesome to see. It didn’t seem like the weather bothered him much.”
Jackson’s numbers came a season after he accounted for 610 yards and five TDs in Louisville’s 62-28 rout of the Orange that laid the path toward his Heisman victory. Louisville rolled up 845 yards in that game and followed with 727 against Syracuse (4-7, 2-5).
Louisville (7-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored all but once from outside the 20 to dominate its home finale.
“They put a whooping on us,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers said. “They jumped on us very quickly we didn’t get a chance to compete. A lot like last year.”
Malik Williams rushed for a career-high 180 yards on nine carries with TD runs of 46 and 56 yards. Louisville native Bonnafon also had a 33-yard scoring run along with his TD reception.
Ervin Philips had an 8-yard touchdown run late in the game for Syracuse, which lost its fourth straight and sixth in eight games.
