LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Lamar Jackson made a big play for No. 7 Louisville before the Cardinals even took the field against Duke on Friday night.
The sophomore quarterback and Heisman Trophy contender had a hug, a smile and an autographed white football waiting for Amzie Smith, a junior at Louisville’s Ballard High School who has cancer. Smith’s wish was to meet Jackson and he gladly obliged as the team departed buses to begin their Card March into Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.
Smith’s smile was even bigger as her wish came true. She later tweeted, “Thank you so much @Lj_era8 for taking the time to meet me. You the role model that Louisville needs. This meant the world to me.”
Jackson eventually gave Smith and Cardinals fans reason to smile with his 15th touchdown pass this season, a 5-yarder to Jaylen Smith on Louisville’s opening drive. He provided a sigh of relief with a late 2-yard TD run for a 24-14 victory.
Jackson said after the game that meeting Smith was “a treat” for him because his grandmother died of cancer. Her story touched him and he was glad to have met her and put a smile on her face.
“It was cool because she was smiling. She was smiling pretty hard,” he said. “I’m just happy we could make her day.”
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AP College Football: collegefootball.ap.org
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