University of Louisville
EAST CAROLINA
Louisville Runs Past East Carolina 59-7
October 02, 2004 | Football
Oct. 2, 2004
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By CHRIS DUNCAN
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Eric Shelton ran for 129 yards and tied a Louisville record with five touchdowns on the ground Saturday to lead the No. 22 Cardinals to a 59-7 win over East Carolina.
Louisville (4-0, 2-0 Conference USA) piled up 549 yards overall on the nation's second-worst defense and reached 40 points for the seventh time in 17 games under second-year coach Bobby Petrino.
The Cardinals, third in the nation in scoring defense, forced five turnovers and converted three into touchdowns in their last tuneup before an Oct. 14 date with fourth-ranked Miami.
James Pinkney went 13 of 23 for 126 yards with two interceptions for the Pirates (0-4, 0-1), who have lost nine straight games and 17 of their last 18.
Shelton asserted himself against the country's most porous rushing defense midway through the first quarter. On the second play of Louisville's second possession, the Florida State transfer found a hole up the middle and outran East Carolina's secondary for a 67-yard touchdown.
The Cardinals were on the move again early in the second quarter, but Michael Bush fumbled at the Pirates' 38. Three minutes later, Pinkney threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to tight end Sean Harmon.
Other than Shelton's long run, the Cardinals' offense sputtered early and Petrino replaced senior quarterback Stefan LeFors with freshman Brian Brohm.
Petrino has made the move in the first half of every game this season, and this time Brohm was a catalyst. He went 3-for-3 on a nine-play scoring drive, which Shelton finished with a 1-yard TD run.
Montrell Jones returned an East Carolina punt 54 yards to set up Shelton's third TD run, a 3-yarder, midway through the second quarter.
Pinkney fumbled on the second play of the second half, and Shelton ended a three-play Louisville drive with another 1-yard touchdown run. Shelton tied the single-game school record for rushing touchdowns on a 39-yard sweep midway through the third quarter.
The Cardinals have outscored opponents 70-7 in the third quarter this season.
