University of Louisville
UAB
Cardinals Cruise Past UAB, 41-21
November 23, 2002 | Football
Nov 23, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Dave Ragone threw three touchdown passes and became Louisville's all-time winningest starting quarterback in the Cardinals' 41-21 win over UAB on Saturday.
Ragone, one of 14 Louisville seniors playing his final home game, finished 21-of-33 for 207 yards with three interceptions. He improved to 27-9 as a starter, passing Frank Gitschier, who went 26-10-1 for Louisville from 1946-49.
T.J. Patterson ran for 135 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals (7-4, 5-2 Conference USA).
Darrell Hackney went 15-of-32 for 192 yards for the Blazers (5-6, 4-3).
Louisville's offense sputtered early, gaining 9 yards on its first three possessions.
UAB's Nick Hayes had converted 14 of 15 field-goal attempts this season but missed from 53 and 27 yards to keep the game scoreless.
Following Hayes' second miss, Ragone fumbled and Nigel Eldridge recovered at the Louisville 10. Kendal Gibson scored on a 5-yard run less than a minute later.
Ragone atoned for his earlier miscue with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Damien Dorsey in the second quarter.
Louisville's defense held UAB to one first down the rest of the second quarter while the Cardinals' offense hit its stride.
Lionel Gates scored his first touchdown of the season on a 16-yard run. Patterson had runs of 16 and 17 yards on the Cardinals' next possession, setting up Nate Smith's 27-yard field goal in the half's final minute.
The Cardinals had 150 yards rushing at halftime - more than they had in seven of their first 10 games.
Louisville safety Curry Burns blocked a Chet Ervin punt early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown pass from Ragone to reserve tight end Tone Slatter.
The Cardinals lead the nation with nine blocked punts and 12 blocked kicks. Burns and teammate Brandon Johnson lead the nation with three blocked punts apiece.
Smith tied a school record with a career-long 52-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 27-7 Louisville lead.
Patterson added a 6-yard TD run at the end of the third quarter.
Theron Dudley had a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for UAB before Ragone threw a 12-yard TD pass to Antoine Harris. Ragone trotted off his home field for the last time with 5:23 remaining to a standing ovation.
UAB backup quarterback Thomas Cox threw a touchdown pass to T.J. Simmons with 1:19 left.
