Louisville Cardinals Hold Off Toledo Rockets In Bush’s Boca Raton Bowl
If you like your football served with a side of chaos and a literal bucket of baked beans, the Boca Raton Bowl was the perfect holiday dish. In a game that featured Keegan-Michael Key as a spokesperson and a golden retriever mascot deciding the coin toss, Louisville managed to close out a rollercoaster 2025 season with a win that was equal parts gritty and bizarre.
The 27-22 victory over Toledo wasn’t exactly a masterclass in offensive consistency, but for a Jeff Brohm-led squad that has battled ups and downs all year, it was a fitting end. It wasn’t always pretty, but it got the job done, securing a third consecutive nine-win season for the Cardinals.
A Tale Of Two Halves For Louisville
For the first 30 minutes, this game was a certified “rock fight.” Louisville came out swinging, looking like they might run the Rockets out of Florida. Keyjuan Brown ripped off a 31-yard run to start the day, setting up Quarterback Miller Moss for a crisp 17-yard touchdown strike to TreyShun Hurry. At that point, fans probably thought they were in for an offensive showcase.
They were wrong.
The offense seemingly decided to take an early halftime break, stalling out for the rest of the second quarter. We saw a fumble, a missed field goal, and a whole lot of punting. By the time the teams headed to the locker rooms, Louisville was clinging to a sleepy 7-3 lead. It was the kind of performance that had fans scratching their heads, wondering which version of the Cardinals had shown up to play.
The Ground Game Saves the Day
Thankfully, the offense woke up from its nap in the second half. With Duke Watson sidelined due to injury, the backfield burden fell on the shoulders of Isaac Brown and Keyjuan Brown. The duo didn’t just step up; they carried the team. Combining for 214 rushing yards, they provided the spark that the passing game couldn’t quite sustain.
Keyjuan Brown set the table in the third quarter with three bruising runs that led to a Moss touchdown pass to Antonio Meeks. Then, Isaac Brown took over, punching in an 11-yard score to open the fourth quarter and later breaking free for a massive 53-yard touchdown run that should have put the game on ice.
A Wild Finish Only a Mother Could Love
Of course, because this is Louisville football in 2025, nothing comes easy. What looked like a blowout turned into a nail-biter in the final frame. The two teams combined for 32 points in the fourth quarter alone, turning a defensive struggle into a shootout.
The weirdness peaked after Isaac Brown’s long touchdown run. Toledo blocked the extra point and returned it all the way for a two-point safety. Suddenly, the momentum shifted. Toledo punched in another touchdown shortly after, but failed on their own two-point conversion, leaving the score at 27-22.
The drama didn’t end with the whistle. Tempers flared in the final two minutes, resulting in a sideline brawl and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for both squads. It was messy, it was emotional, and it was tense. But when the dust settled and the final seconds ticked off, Louisville was the team holding the trophy, and presumably, a bunch of baked beans.
