University of Louisville
Memphis
Louisville Emerges Victorious Over Memphis in Slugfest
October 11, 2008 | Football
Oct. 11, 2008
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Johnny Patrick returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and blocked a field goal to set up another score in Louisville's 35-28 victory over Memphis on Friday night
Trent Guy returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and caught a 43-yard scoring pass from Hunter Cantwell to help the Cardinals (3-2) survive against their former Conference USA rival.
Memphis quarterback Arkelon Hall threw for 350 yards and completed a rare trifecta - throwing for two scores while adding a touchdown rushing and receiving - but couldn't lead the Tigers (3-4) to their fourth straight win.
Memphis rolled up 481 yards against the nation's ninth-ranked defense, but the Cardinals made up for it with a pair of spectacular plays on special teams and a couple of late stops to overcome an uncharacteristically sluggish offense.
Louisville had no answer for a creative Memphis game plan that pulled from the deepest pages of offensive coordinator Clay Helton's playbook.
Wide receiver passes. Screens. Throwback screens. Tackle eligible tosses. Direct snaps to running backs. The only thing missing was a drop-kick and a jump pass.
Still, it wasn't quite enough. Though Memphis rallied from a 28-14 deficit to tie it at 28 late in the third quarter, the Tigers squandered several late chances.
Louisville appeared to take a 35-28 lead on a 13-yard touchdown run by Brock Bolen. A holding call brought that back and Ryan Payne's 36-yard field goal attempt clanged off the right upright.
Memphis couldn't take advantage of the reprieve. Hall was drilled by Rodney Gnat four plays after the missed field goal and Patrick picked the ball up and raced to the end zone.
Memphis had two chances to tie, but failed on a fourth down at the Louisville 9. The Tigers went three-and-out and decided to kick with 3:52 remaining and Louisville's running game made sure Memphis never got it back.
Victor Anderson had 81 yards rushing and Cantwell finished with 133 yards and two touchdowns on a gimpy left ankle.
Though the offensive struggled, Guy and Patrick picked up the slack.
After the Tigers took a 14-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Maurice Jones to Hall, Guy responded with a nifty return up the middle to tie it.
Cantwell hit Pete Nochta for 23-yard score to put Louisville up 21-14 when Patrick made the play that turned the game.
Memphis drove to the Louisville 30 late in the half and brought in freshman kicker Vinny Zaccario, who had made all five of his field goal attempts this year. Patrick, however, got a hand on the kick and the ball bounced right into the arms of Louisville's Brandon Heath, who raced 60 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the half to put Louisville up 28-14.
