Cardinals Travel to the Dome to Face Orangemen
September 08, 2003 | Football
Sept. 8, 2003
After sitting idle last weekend, the University of Louisville will hit the practice fields on Tuesday to begin preparations for this Saturday's non-conference match-up with Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. and the game will be televised live back to Louisville on WDRB (Fox 41).
The Cardinals opened the 2003 campaign convincingly by handing Kentucky a 40-24 defeat on August 31 at Commonwealth Stadium.
Behind the running of Eric Shelton, Louisville recorded 420 yards of total offense, including 240 yards on the ground. Shelton made an immediate impact on the ground game, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns, while Lionel Gates also contributed in the backfield by gaining 75 yards and a touchdown.
Junior quarterback Stefan LeFors, who was making his first collegiate start, completed 14-of-23 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinal defense and special teams were opportunistic, scoring 19 points on four Wildcat miscues. Junior J.R. Russell blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown, and freshman Gavin Smart returned an interception 41 yards that set up a LeFors to Kamer two-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Syracuse opened the season last Saturday with a 49-47 triple overtime win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Walter Reyes, who rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns, scored from 25 yards out and also ran in for the two-point conversion in the third overtime to give the 'Cuse a 49-41 lead.
The Tar Heels answered on a 10-yard pass from Darian Durant to Derrele Mitchell, but Kelvin Smith stopped Jacque Lewis short of the goal line after he took a shovel pass from Durant on the 2-point attempt.
North Carolina led the entire game until Collin Barber's 37-yard field goal with 27 seconds left in regulation tied it at 34-34.
