Cards' Brohm throwing, on track to face West Virginia

Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm has started throwing and squeezing a foam football, just two weeks after dislocating his right thumb.

Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino says Brohm is on track to return to the lineup for No. 8 Louisville's showdown against No. 4 West Virginia on Nov. 2.

Brohm, last year's Big East player of the year, has used his time off to do more rehab work on his surgically repaired right knee, which he injured last year.

Hunter Cantwell will start Friday against Middle Tennessee State (3-2). He continues to fill in admirably for Brohm, keeping the Cardinals among the nation's best in total offense and scoring, averaging 523 yards and 44 points.

But New Mexico State passed them as the nation's top offense during the bye week. They hope to reclaim the position on Friday.

"Every week we have to get back to the No. 1 offense in the nation," receiver Mario Urrutia said. "We do thrive on that. That's a big thing for us, really."