University of Louisville
East Carolina
Louisville Rolls Over ECU, 36-20
October 25, 2003 | Football
Oct 25, 2003
By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Eric Shelton rushed for 118 yards and a touchdown Saturday as Louisville took control in the fourth quarter to beat East Carolina 36-20.
J.R. Russell had a 35-yard TD catch in the fourth quarter for the Cardinals, who improved to 7-1 for the second time in three seasons. Lionel Gates added a rushing touchdown and Nate Smith kicked three field goals for Louisville (3-1 Conference USA).
T.J. Patterson closed the game with a 42-yard touchdown run as time expired.
Terrance Copper had 10 catches for 147 yards and a score to lead the Pirates (1-7, 1-3), while Desmond Robinson threw for a career-high 291 yards. Marvin Townes rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown, snapping his streak of 100-yard games at three.
Louisville won last year's game 44-20, getting 204 of its 556 total yards on the ground. But the Pirates kept the Cardinals' yard-munching offense in check and finding enough offense to stay in the game for three quarters.
The Cardinals, however, controlled the fourth quarter, scoring 17 unanswered points to win their third straight game.
The teams were tied at 13 entering the fourth, but Smith kicked a 31-yard field goal on the second play of the period to put the Cardinals ahead to stay.
After forcing East Carolina to turn the ball over on downs midway through the period, the Cardinals pushed the lead to 23-13 on Stefan LeFors' 35-yard scoring toss to Russell with 6:47 to play. That ended a three-play, 67-yard drive that included a 30-yard run on a reverse by Robert Haskins.
Gates' 13-yard TD run pushed the lead to 30-13 with 2:18 left.
Trailing 10-3 at halftime, the Pirates opened the second half with an 80-yard scoring drive, capped by Townes' 9-yard scoring run that tied it at 10 with 11:52 left in the quarter.
The teams then traded field goals before the Cardinals took control of the fourth quarter.
