Louisville vs. Army Post Game Notes

Oct. 11, 2003

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Louisville Notes

Louisville produced a season-high 619 yards in total offense (411 passing, 208 rushing), the most since gaining a school-record 769 in a 63-45 victory at East Carolina on Nov. 14, 1998. Ten different receivers caught passes
QB Stefan LeFors threw for a career-high 406 yards (19 of 28 passes, one interception), surpassing his previous best of 267 yards set last week vs. USF. It is the eighth-best individual performance in U of L history, the first 400-yard passing game of his career, and the first at U of L since Chris Redman threw for 450 yards against Illinois on Sept. 18, 1999.
Freshman QB/RB/WR Michael Bush recorded his first career rushing touchdown, becoming the first player since Ralph Dawkins to throw, rush and catch a touchdown for the Cardinals in a single season. Dawkins caught six TD passes, rushed for three and threw one in 1993. He's only the third player in school history to accomplish such a feat. Dawkins did it twice in 1993 and 1992 and Ernest Givens also did it in 1985.
Junior WR J.R. Russell has now caught a pass in 17 straight games. He caught six passes for a career-high 153 yards, which was his second 100-yard receiving game this season and of his career.
With two field goals (22 and 44 yards), senior K Nate Smith tied Ron Bell (1987-90) for the most career field goals at U of L with 36.
Freshman RB Kolby Smith recorded his first career reception - a 45-yarder in the first quarter. He ran for 60 yards on five carries.
TE Ronnie Ghent has now caught a pass in 31 straight games and 34 of 35 games.
Sophomore RB Eric Shelton rushed for a career-best three touchdowns, becoming the first player since Henry Miller ran for three last year at Colorado State (9-14-02).
Junior LB Robert McCune recorded his first career interception.
Junior CB Antoine Harris recorded his second interception in as many games.
Sophomore WR Broderick Clark did not play due to a high hamstring injury.
A pair of former Cardinal defensive backs whose jerseys have been retired were honored at the game. Dwayne Woodruff (U of L letterman from 1976-78), who led the Pittsburgh Steelers in interceptions on five occasions, received the 2003 U of L Alumni Fellows Award for the College of Business and Public Administration, presented to alumni who are leaders in their professional fields. Frank Minnifield (1979-82), a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Cleveland Browns, emerged from a Cardinal Cab that was newly adorned with his retired jersey number (1).
The sellout crowd of 40,432 was the largest of the season and seventh-largest ever at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (there were no-shows in the 42,000-seat stadium).
Ryan McKinley (economics major sponsored by Sigma Kappa Sorority and executive vice president of the Student Government Association) and Mandy Botelho (biology major sponsored by Kappa Delta Sorority and a member of the Cards' varsity rowing team) were named U of L's Homecoming King and Queen during homecoming festivities at halftime.

Army Notes

Louisville's 34-10 victory over Army Saturday was the Cardinals' fifth in eight tries all-time versus the Black Knights. The Cardinals have won their last three meetings against Army.
Army tied an Academy record with 55 pass attempts on Saturday, equaling the existing mark established when the Black Knights threw 55 times versus North Carolina on Sept. 25, 1976. The Black Knights' 28 completions were the squad's second-highest total this year (behind their 29 versus Tulane) and tied for the third-highest total in Academy history.
Anthony Zurisko's 22-yard field goal with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter snapped an eight-quarter scoreless drought for the Black Knights. Army had not scored since posting a late fourth-quarter touchdown versus Tulane on Sept. 20 (a span of 136 minutes and 10 seconds).
The Black Knights' 10 first-half points marked their highest halftime total of the year, surpassing their six first-half points versus Tulane.
Senior ILB Brian Hill's 33-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter was his first career pickoff and first career score. It also marked Army's initial defensive touchdown of 2003 and first since Ryan Kent's 88-yard fumble return versus the Cardinals last season (Sept. 21, 2002), a span of 15 games.
Hill was involved in each of Louisville's three turnovers, forcing a fumble in the first quarter (recovered by Odene Brathwaite) prior to intercepting Stefan LeFors' pass in the second stanza. He also forced a fumble on a Cardinal punt return in the fourth quarter.
Army sophomore WR Scott Wesley returned the opening kickoff 17 yards, marking the first return of his career. He finished the day with six returns for 140 yards. Wesley entered the season listed fourth among return specialists on the team's depth chart, but has been pressed into service due to injuries.
Junior P Alex Bradford's 61-yard boot in the first quarter marked a career long. He averaged 43.2 yards per punt on six attempts Saturday.
QB Zac Dahman's 5-yard completion to Lamar Mason late in the second quarter pushed the sophomore's career passing yardage total past 2,000 yards, making him just the 10th quarterback in Army history to reach that plateau. Dahman finished the day 17-for-30 for 130 yards through the air. He ranks in Army's career Top 10 in all three passing categories, with 194 completions (sixth), 392 attempts (seventh) and 2,046 yards (10th).
Backup QB Matt Silva established season highs versus the Cardinals by completing 11 passes in 25 attempts. His 112 yards were his second-best effort of the campaign, trailing only his 117 markers opposite Rutgers.
The Black Knights' 97 rushing yards (on 26 attempts) were their second-highest showing of the season, behind a 142-yard effort on the ground against Tulane.
WR Jacob Murphy set a new career high with five receptions, totaling 49 yards.

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