Defense Dominates Spring Football Game
April 20, 2002 | Football
April 20, 2002
Dewayne White and his teammates on the defensive side of the ball have had a step or two on the offense throughout spring practice and that trend continued today as the University of Louisville football team put the final touches on spring drills with the Spring Football Game today at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
While two-time Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year Dave Ragone, Stefan LeFors and Adam Ellis were able to lead the offense to three touchdowns, it was Dewayne White and the Cardinal defense that continued to dictate the pace on the field.
Led by three sacks from White, the reigning C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, and one sack apiece from Bobby Leffew, Devon Thomas and Chad Lee, the Cardinal first team defense put pressure on Ragone throughout the game.
Playing behind an offensive line featuring four new starters, Ragone took the brunt of the defense attack as he was on the wrong end of all six defensive sacks and picked off by both members of the 'stick & pick' safety combination comprised of seniors Anthony Floyd and Curry Burns -- Floyd returned his pick 24 yards for a score.
In addition to putting heat on Ragone in the passing game, the first team defense shut down the Cardinal running game, limiting junior T.J. Patterson to 32 yards on 12 carries. Despite the defensive pressure and a nonexistent running game, Ragone completed 7-of-17 passes, including a seven-yard scoring strike to tight end Ronnie Ghent.
Splitting time against the second team defense, LeFors completed 4-of-12 passes for 34 yards and a score, while Ellis also completed 4-of-12 passes for 64 yards and a score. Ellis found James Taylor in the back of the end zone on a 17-yard scoring strike while LeFors connected with Keshan Fudge for a 20-yard score. Kicker Nate Smith added a 22-yard field goal to round out the scoring on the day.
Taylor, a highly-touted junior college transfer, led all receivers with five catches for 52 yards, while Tiger Jones hauled in two catches for 31 yards, including a nifty 23-yard diving catch from Ellis. Ghent and J.R. Russell each pulled down two passes apiece while Fudge, Greg Tinch, Tone' Slatter and Patterson each nabbed one.
