Gardner back as U of L's starting quarterback
Will Gardner's the guy again.
After 2½ with freshman Reggie Bonnafon as the University of Louisville's starting quarterback, U of L offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said Tuesday that the Cardinals will hand the offense's reins back to Gardner for Saturday's game against North Carolina State.
Gardner missed Louisville's wins over Wake Forest and Syracuse with an unspecified knee injury that he suffered in U of L's Sept. 20 win over Florida International. He practiced all of last week, but McGee and head coach Bobby Petrino stuck with Bonnafon for last Saturday's game at Clemson.
When Bonnafon struggled through two-plus quarters, Gardner threw for 150 yards and a touchdown in relief.
"Reggie came in and did a really good job and won us a couple games," McGee said. "Will is back healthy now, so we're going to put in Will first."
McGee said that Louisville (5-2) will still use Bonnafon during Saturday's game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
He declined to specify when the Cardinals would use the freshman, only saying that Louisville has a specific offensive package for Bonnafon, who threw for 342 yards in his three starts, tossing one touchdown and one interception.
Bonnafon ran 30 times for 28 yards, though the NCAA includes sacks in a player's rushing totals. He was sacked 10 times in those three starts.
"Reggie has done enough to show us that he deserves an opportunity to play," McGee said. "When we go to a certain package, he'll be in the game to allow him to use his skills. What it is, he's shown us that he is capable of helping us win."
Of the two, Gardner's the better pocket passer. The redshirt sophomore started the first four games of the season and has completed 57 percent of his passes for 948 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
Last week, once Gardner was healthy, Petrino and McGee continued with Bonnafon because he presented the best chance for a Louisville quarterback to escape Clemson's top-flight pass rush.
But Bonnafon completed just 5 of 13 passes against Clemson. The Tigers started playing closer and closer to the line of scrimmage, showing no fear of Bonnafon's passing ability, which condensed Louisville's offense and stifled the Cards' rushing attack.
Gardner came in and immediately opened the offense up, hitting James Quick and Eli Rogers over the middle for two 22-yard completions. Rogers' catch was a touchdown.
He found Quick for a 73-yard catch and run in Louisville's final possession, but the Cardinals couldn't get the touchdown they needed once they were inside Clemson's 10-yard line.
"I do think that when (Gardner) came in in the third quarter, he gave us a lift," Petrino said Monday. "Our timing was a little bit better and we were able to throw the ball down the field and got ourselves in position to win the game."
After Saturday's game, Gardner just grinned and shook off questions about his status with the team. He wasn't sure if he'd won back the starting job.
"I have to be ready if my name's called and stay positive," Gardner said. "I can't sit and pout. I have to stay positive for these guys."
Reach U of L beat writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).
UP NEXT
N.C. STATE AT U of L
3:30 p.m. Saturday, Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
INSIDE
• Quick blames 'bad judgment' for getting stopped. Page C4