A late second quarter score gave West Virginia a 7-3 halftime lead over Louisville at Milan Puskar Stadium.
The Mountaineers scored on their final drive of the first half thanks to an 8-yard Jock Sanders touchdown reception from quarterback Jarrett Brown.
The score was set up by two consecutive plays of at least 20 yards by WVU – a 20-yard pickup by Noel Devine on a 2nd-and-19 and a 29-yard reception by Alric Arnett to bring the Mountaineers to the Louisville 10-yard line.
Before the drive, West Virginia had punted four times and was held to 99 yards of total offense.
At the half, West Virginia outgained Louisville 171-170 in total yards.
The score answered a 37-yard field goal by Louisville kicker Chris Philpott with 4:35 left in the second halftime. Philpott added a 44-yarder with five seconds remaining in the first half.
The WVU defense limited Cardinals and walk-on quarterback Will Stein to just two first downs in the first quarter and just XX yards in the first half.
UL running back Darius Ashley led the Cardinals with 54 yards on the ground in the first half including an 11-yard pickup on a key third down to move Louisville into WVU territory midway through the second quarter.
One play later, however, WVU linebacker Pat Lazear forced an Ashley fumble which was recovered by safety Robert Sands on the WVU 29-yard line.
The Mountaineers were held to a three-and-out, however.
Brown finished the first half 7-of-11 for 88 yards while Arnett ended with three receptions for 39 yards. Devine had 57 yards on 13 carries.
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