
Football Falls To TCU, 45-31
October 19, 2002 | Football
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes | Coach Smith Audio | Ragone Audio | Dorsey Audio | Thomas Audio |
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Tye Gunn threw three touchdown passes Saturday to lead TCU to a 45-31 win over Louisville, the Horned Frogs' sixth straight victory.
Ricky Madison rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown and Lonta Hobbs ran for 106 yards and two more scores as the Horned Frogs (6-1, 3-1 Conference USA) dominated the Cardinals for the second straight season.
TCU's defense sacked Dave Ragone six times and held the Cardinals to minus-26 yards rushing, while the offense amassed 437 total yards and earned 27 first downs.
Ragone threw for a season-high 309 yards and three touchdowns for Louisville (4-3, 2-1), which was handed its worst home loss since a 42-21 defeat against Oklahoma in 1999.
It was the most points allowed by Louisville at home since a 68-34 loss to Kentucky on Sept. 5, 1998, the first game played at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
The Horned Frogs took command immediately, just like they did in a 37-22 win over the Cardinals in Fort Worth last November.
Madison had a 32-yard run on TCU's opening drive and Gunn found LaTerence Dunbar wide open for a 17-yard touchdown pass 4:33 into the game.
Broderick Clark fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Nick Browne kicked a 37-yard field goal with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
Fans booed the Cardinals after Ragone was sacked for the third time in the opening quarter. The jeers intensified after Hobbs ran 50 yards to the Louisville 7. Hobbs scored on fourth down from the 1 for a 17-0 lead with 13:41 left in the first half.
Louisville lost 7 yards on its next possession and Terran Williams returned a punt to the Cardinals' 43. The Horned Frogs drove to the 5, but the Louisville defense held on fourth down.
Henry Miller fumbled on Louisville's next play and Gunn immediately threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Adrian Madise.
Louisville punter Nate Smith fumbled a snap later in the second quarter and Madison scored on an 11-yard run with 4:27 left in the first half for a 31-0 lead.
Ragone threw a 40-yard pass to Damien Dorsey 37 seconds later, but Gunn answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Holts.
The Cardinals scored 18 points in the first 4:57 of the second half.
Ragone threw a 6-yard touchdown pass before Jonathan Jackerson blocked Joey Biasatti's punt out of the end zone for a safety. The Cardinals lead the nation with six blocked punts this season.
Miller had a 4-yard touchdown run with 10:03 left in the third quarter.
The comeback ended there. TCU defensive tackle John Turntine intercepted a deflected pass by Ragone at the Louisville 29 and Hobbs scored from 1 yard out with 8:42 left.
Ragone threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Dorsey with 6:40 to go.