CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Louisville capped a turbulent week on a high note.
Stefan LeFors tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to J.R. Russell with 70 seconds remaining as the Cardinals rallied for a 43-40 Conference USA victory over Cincinnati in the regular-season finale for both teams.
LeFors drove Louisville (9-3, 5-3) 69 yards in five plays after the Bearcats had taken a 43-40 lead on Kyle Koester's with 2:20 remaining.
The Cardinals faced a week of off-the-field distractions as first-year coach Bobby Petrino apologized after admitting he met with Auburn officials last Thursday to discuss the Tigers' coaching position which is not vacant.
"The main thing is the coaches and the players have great relationships," Petrino said. "This team came together all year long and it's a good way to end the season."
Louisville ended the regular season with two straight wins, outlasting the Bearcats in a seesaw affair that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals grabbed a 35-34 lead on Chris Manfredi's 38-yard field goal with 5:21 to play.
LeFors completed 16-of-27 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns for Louisville. Michael Bush rushed for 125 yards on 11 carries, most of its coming on an 81-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter.
"We wanted to finish it (the season) like we started," said LeFors, whose team opened the year with wins over Kentucky and Syracuse. "We had two great wins at the beginning of the season and we wanted to end it with two great wins."
Gino Guidugli completed 20-of-40 passes for 336 yards and a TD for the Bearcats (5-7, 2-6), who concluded a disappointing season with three straight losses. Carl Jones rushed for 86 yards on 15 carries.
Louisville built a 28-14 halftime lead, but the Bearcats tied the game, 28-28, on Guidugli's 17-yard TD strike to Dennis Hart with 16 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
With nine victories, Petrino set a Louisville record for most wins by a first-year coach.
