University of Louisville
GRAMBLING
Louisville Blanks Grambling 52-0
September 09, 2000 | Football
Sept. 9, 2000
Postgame Audio - Coach Smith
By CHRIS DUNCAN
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dave Ragone threw four first-half touchdown passes, to lead Louisville to a 52-0 win Saturday night over Division I-AA Grambling State.
Louisville (2-0) recorded 10 sacks - including a school-record-tying four by Michael Josiah - and held the Tigers to 60 total yards while posting its first shutout since 1995.
The defense took command of the game in the first quarter, sacking Grambling quarterback Randy Hymes four times and holding the Tigers to one first down.
Lawrence Richmond missed a 43-yard field goal attempt seven minutes into the game and the Tigers (1-1) didn't come close to scoring the rest of the half.
Four plays after Richmond's miss, Ragone found Zek Parker down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown pass.
Louisville forced a Tigers punt from their own end zone later in the first quarter, and Arnold Jackson returned it to the Grambling 32. A penalty pushed the ball back to the 37 but Ragone hooked up with Deion Branch for a touchdown pass on the next play for a 14-0 lead.
Louisville's fifth sack of the half came in the opening minute of the second quarter, and once again pinned the Tigers inside their 10. Jackson returned the ensuing punt for a touchdown, but a holding penalty put the ball at the Grambling 29.
It didn't matter. Ragone found tight end Richard Owens for a 10-yard touchdown pass two minutes later for a three-touchdown Louisville lead.
Defensive end Derrick Kennedy sacked Hymes on Grambling's next possession, forced a fumble and recovered it at the Tigers' 22. It set up freshman kicker Wade Tydlacka's first career field goal, a 40-yarder, with 10:10 left in the half for a 24-0 lead.
Ragone found Branch for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 2:40 left in the half and Tony Stallings added a 26-yard touchdown run in the half's final minute.
The Cardinals sacked Hymes eight times in the first half and led 38-0 at halftime despite 12 penalties for 119 yards. The Tigers had minus-12 total yards at halftime.
Backup quarterback Mike Watkins had a pair of short touchdown runs in the second half.
