University of Louisville
ARMY
Cardinals Pull Away From Army, 34-10
October 11, 2003 | Football
Oct 11, 2003
Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes
Coach Petrino Audio | QB Stefan LeFors Audio | QB/RB/WR Michael Bush Audio
By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Stefan LeFors didn't even know he'd had a career day.
LeFors threw for a career-best 406 yards and Eric Shelton ran for three touchdowns as Louisville beat winless Army 34-10 on Saturday.
"I didn't know I had that many until they told me," LeFors said. "All day, the receivers made plays, everybody I threw to. I'd throw it up, and they'd make plays."
LeFors, who did not throw a touchdown pass, completed 19 of 28 including four of 35 yards or more.
Louisville (5-1, 1-1 Conference USA) led Army (0-6, 0-4) only 17-10 at halftime, but pulled away with a 17-point third quarter. Shelton, who carried 14 times for 70 yards, scored twice in the quarter, on runs of 3 and 4 yards.
The Cardinals finished 619 total yards, the fourth-highest in school history and best since gaining 687 yards against Western Kentucky in 1998.
"I really enjoyed watching some of our players make plays out there," Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. "That's a great job by Stefan. He really doesn't worry about who he throws the ball to. He had some guys make some great plays around him."
LeFors completed passes to nine receivers. He had completions of 50 and 66 yards to J.R. Russell, who had five catches for 146 yards.
"Me and Stefan came in together," Russell said. "We are just real comfortable with each other. We've been waiting for a game like that. It was a matter of time until we had a breakout game like this."
Army, shut out in its previous two games, broke its scoring drought when Anthony Zurisko kicked a 22-yard field goal with 3:10 left in the first quarter.
 Michael Bush celebrates his 32-yard touchdown run during the first half.  | |
Shelton scored on a 19-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. Army again tied the game when Brian Hill returned his first career interception 33 yards for a touchdown.
Michael Bush's 32-yard touchdown run gave the Cardinals a 17-10 lead midway through the second quarter.
Army then drove to the Louisville 1, but backup quarterback Matt Silva threw incomplete on fourth down 1:43 before halftime.
Shelton's two third-quarter touchdown runs sandwiched a 44-yard field goal by Nate Smith. Smith also kicked a 22-yarder in the first quarter.
"They stepped it up in the second half and made plays and we didn't," Army coach Todd Berry said. "Our offense has been a source of frustration all season long. We're really banged up on the front line and we haven't been able to mount much offense in the red zone."
Army rushed for 97 yards on 26 attempts, and 51 of those yards came on two plays. Army quarterbacks Zac Dahman and Silva combined for 242 passing yards but threw three interceptions.
