When Teddy Bridgewater took the field with just more than three minutes remaining in Saturday’s game, Louisville’s blemish-free record was on the line. Down by four to South Florida, Bridgewater’s Cardinals needed a quick touchdown drive to get to 7-0 and stay nationally relevant.

Mission accomplished. Bridgewater calmly guided the Cardinals on a 75-yard touchdown drive that took just 1:34. No. 16 Louisville remained undefeated.

“We had to rally from behind there,” Louisville head coach Charlie Strong said during the Big East coaches’ teleconference on Monday. “Teddy Bridgewater did a great job of just taking our offense down the field. … We had to protect our quarterback and just let him make the throws, and Teddy made some big throws.”

Saturday’s game was another positive note in Bridgewater’s sophomore campaign, which has been marked by high efficiency and poise. The 6-foot-3-inch quarterback is completing 73.4 percent of his passes this season, good for third in the nation, and has led the Cardinals to a series of close victories in the 7-0 start.

Despite a successful freshman season where he completed 64.5 percent of his passes during a 7-6 season, Bridgewater saw room for improvement for 2012. Even though his completion percentage ranked 29th in the country, he threw 12 interceptions, including a three-interception performance against North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl.

“Last year, when he took over as the quarterback, he knew he had a lot of learning (to do),” Strong said. “He really needed to study the game, and study the defenses and study the coverages.”

Understanding the value of acquiring football knowledge, he devoted the offseason to analyzing film and immersing himself in the nuances of the game.

So far, the results have paid off. Bridgewater has thrown for 11 touchdowns and only three interceptions in 2012, while raising his completion percentage by 8.9 percent.

“That’s what he did over the spring and over the summer,” Strong said. “He put in the work and he wanted to learn more football. … Going through the camp, he just made himself a better football player.”

He put his work to use against South Florida. Bridgewater went 5-for-7 for 64 yards on the game-deciding drive while contributing an 11-yard run. The drive culminated when Bridgewater connected with Eli Rogers for an 11-yard score that gave Louisville a 27-25 advantage. South Florida couldn’t get into field-goal range on its final drive.

Although Bridgewater’s success in 2012 has been pronounced, he makes sure to remember that he can’t do it alone, Strong said. An offense can be hindered by poor performance in any facet — quarterback play, running game, receivers or the line. The Louisville offense has done its part to help Bridgewater’s game shine.

“Also key is that he gives his teammates a lot of credit,” Strong said. “He knows that when his offensive line protects him and his receivers make the catches, he’s able to stand in there and make the throws and have the success that he has.”

Louisville’s next challenge in staying undefeated is Cincinnati, which opened the season with five consecutive wins before falling at Toledo last Saturday. Cincinnati’s defense has started strong, holding four of six opponents to 17 points or less, and could pose a difficult matchup for Bridgewater.

Bearcats head coach Butch Jones regards Bridgewater as an intelligent player and doesn’t expect him to make many careless mistakes.

“When you look at Teddy Bridgewater, I think you see a disciplined quarterback,” Jones said. He’s a quarterback that doesn’t put his team in negative situations. He knows where he’s going with the football on every snap, and he takes care of the football.”

Jones feels the chance to start as a true freshman put Bridgewater ahead of the curve immediately. Although he suffered some growing pains, he learned on the job what was necessary to succeed in the Big East.

Bridgewater is a veteran now, despite being only a sophomore. When he executes a late-game rally like he did against USF, people take notice.

“We always talk about the quarterback being the alpha male out there, and you can tell he runs the Louisville offense,” Jones said. “I know his players really believe in him, leading them in some come-from-behind victories. The mark of a great quarterback is to lead your team from behind in a one-minute drill.”

Regardless of how 2012 shakes out, Bridgewater has two more seasons to hone his craft before graduation.

If he can keep it up, Jones expects the NFL to call soon enough.

“He’s a high-vision quarterback,” Jones said. “He can scramble and make a run and make a play, but he’s always looking up for the open receiver as well. I think he’s an NFL-caliber quarterback.”

Game to Watch

Kent State at Rutgers, Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Rutgers returns home from a successful trip to Temple and now puts its undefeated record on the line against Kent State of the Mid-American Conference. The Scarlet Knights exploded for 35 second-half points in their 35-10 victory over the Owls, and will need to maintain the tempo against the Golden Flashes.

Kent State carries a 6-1 record — 4-0 in the MAC — into the contest and has scored 41 or more points in three of its last four contests. The matchup between the stingy Rutgers defense and the explosive Kent offense should be interesting.

Cincinnati suffered its first loss of 2012 to MAC foe Toledo last week, and Rutgers could suffer a similar surprise without a strong effort.

Legaux struggles

Assuming the challenge of replacing the graduated Zach Collaros, Cincinnati junior quarterback Munchie Legaux has suffered through stretches of poor play despite his team’s 5-1 start. Legaux has had trouble finding open receivers and is completing only 53.3 percent of his passes in 2012.

In the loss at Toledo, Legaux went 15-for-36 with a touchdown and two interceptions. Despite the poor performance, head coach Butch Jones remained committed to his quarterback when questioned on Monday’s Big East conference call.

Published on October 23, 2012 at 11:22 pm

Contact Kevin: kmprisei@syr.edu