University of Louisville
CINCINNATI
Cardinals Fall to Cincinnati 24-14
November 07, 2002 | Football
Nov 7, 2002
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes | Coach Smith Audio | Ragone Audio
By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - DeMarco McCleskey rushed for two touchdowns and Cincinnati quarterback Gino Guidugli recovered from a dismal first half to lead the Bearcats to a 24-14 win over Louisville on Thursday night.
Guidugli, Conference USA's leader in yards passing and total offense, misfired on his first nine throws and went 3-of-13 for 3 yards in the first half. The former Kentucky high school star went 6-of-10 for 117 yards in the second half as Cincinnati (4-5, 3-2) snapped a four-game losing streak to Louisville (5-4, 3-2).
The Bearcats ran to the north end zone when the game ended to grab the Keg of Nails, the trophy that goes to the winner of this rivalry that dates to the 1920s.
Dave Ragone went 11-for-31 for a career-low 91 yards as the Cardinals lost for the second time in three home games.
McCleskey rushed for 82 yards and added to his Conference USA record with his 36th and 37th career touchdowns.
Cincinnati mustered only 52 yards and five first downs in the first half, but trailed only 7-0 at halftime.
The defense generated the tying touchdown early in the third quarter. Ragone fumbled after a hit by Andre Frazier and Antwan Peek scooped up the ball at the Louisville 15 and scored.
The Cardinals answered immediately.
Broderick Clark took the ensuing kickoff at the 8, found a hole down the sideline, cut back toward the middle of the field and sprinted the rest of the way for a touchdown. The redshirt freshman from Birmingham, Ala., also had a 100-yard kickoff return in the Cardinals' season-opening 22-17 loss to Kentucky.
Cincinnati's offense finally showed some life midway through the third quarter, driving 50 yards in eight plays for a tying touchdown. McCleskey dived into the end zone from 1 yard out.
Guidugli started the second half 5-of-7, and his 22-yard pass to tight end A.J. Lucius early in the fourth quarter set up another 1-yard touchdown run by McCleskey and gave Cincinnati a 21-14 lead.
The Bearcats started the decisive drive from the 50 with 7:23 remaining. Cincinnati chewed up more than 5 minutes before Jonathan Ruffin booted a 29-yard field goal with 2:06 left.
Ragone got the Cardinals to the Louisville 44, but the rally ended there.
Henry Miller opened the scoring with a 4-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Miller, a senior running back, scored a touchdown for the eighth straight game.
Louisville defensive back J.T. Haskins blocked Chet Ervin's punt following Cincinnati's next possession and linebacker Robert McCune recovered the loose ball at the Bearcats 41. The Cardinals blocked a punt for the sixth straight game and lead the nation with eight blocks.
