University of Louisville
EASTERN KENTUCKY
Cardinals Stop Colonels For First Win, 23-13
September 11, 2010 | Football
Sept. 11, 2010
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Louisville senior quarterback Adam Froman passed for 219 yards and a touchdown as the Cardinals beat Eastern Kentucky 23-13 in front of a crowd of 51,427 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Saturday.
Froman threw for 190 of his yards in the first half, including the touchdown to senior receiver Doug Beaumont, who had 83 yards on four catches and his first career touchdown.
It was the first win for the Cardinals (1-1) under first-year coach Charlie Strong. They lost their opener 23-16 to Kentucky.
Louisville, donning special helmets adorned with stars and stripes to mark the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks nine years ago, outlasted the Colonels (0-2) after scoring all of their points in the second quarter.
Defensively, senior defensive end Rodney Gnat led the Cardinals with seven tackles, including a career best four sacks, one fumble forced and one fumble recovery. Senior cornerback Johnny Patrick added five tackles, including one for loss, while junior linebacker Dexter Heyman finished with five tackles and one sack.
The Cardinals opened the scoring with 14:40 left in the second quarter when senior running back Bilal Powell finished off a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown run. It was the first of two touchdowns on the day for Powell, who ran for 92 yards on 16 carries overall.
Louisville pushed its advantage to 9-0 midway through the second quarter when EKU lineman Nathan Watts was whistled for holding penalty in the Colonels' end zone with 8:46 left in the half.
Less than six minutes later, Froman connected with Beaumont for a 42-yard touchdown reception with 3:12 to go in the quarter to cap a five-play, 67-yard scoring drive and a 16-0 lead for the Cardinals. The scoring catch for the Male High School product ended a strech of 106 catches without a touchdown.
Louisville's final touchdown of the half came inside the final minute as Powell scored from three yards out to close a six-play, 50-yard scoring drive for a 23-0 halftime lead.
Eastern Kentucky never threatened, despite closing the gap to 23-7 on Jeremy Caldwell's 80-yard return after intercepting a pass by Froman with 5:00 left in teh third quarter. The Colonels' final score came with 2:28 left in the game as Kyle Lumpkin scored on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Brendon Gregory. EKU was unable to convert its two-point conversion attempt for the final 23-13 margin.
The teams combined for 25 penalties and nearly 200 penalty yards.
Up next, Louisville takes to the road for the first time to face Oregon State next Saturday at 5:30 p.m. ET, in game that will be televised by FOX Sports Northwest.
