University of Louisville
KENTUCKY
Louisville Falls to Kentucky, 23-16
September 04, 2010 | Football
Sept. 4, 2010
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Senior running back Bilal Powell rushed for a career-best 153 yards, but it was not enough as Louisville opened the Charlie Strong era with a disappointing 23-16 home loss to rival Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in front of a school record crowd of 55,327 at the newly expanded Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.
Powell's big game on the ground included a career long 80-yard touchdown rush in the third quarter. His previous long run was a 52-yarder against Connecticut in 2008. The run was also the longest for a Louisville player since current Cardinal Victor Anderson had an 88-yard run against Middle Tennessee State in 2008.
Louisville junior kicker Chris Philpott finished 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 44-yarder in the second quarter which tied a career long. He also connected from 32 yards and 27 yards. Senior quarterback Adam Froman finished the game going 14-for-30 for 129 yards.
After a pair of Kentucky touchdowns in the first quarter, the Wildcats jumped out to an early 13-0 lead over Louisville in the 23rd edition of the Governor's Cup. Derrick Locke rushed for 32 yards for Kentucky's first score and the 6-0 lead. He scored yet again on a one-yard run with 52 seconds left in the first quarter to give the Wildcats a 13-0 advantage.
The Cardinals broke the scoring drought off the foot of Philpott and his two first half field goals, the first being a 44-yarder in the second quarter. The second kick, from 32 yards, came with 4:36 left in the half. It was a result of a 16-play, 65-yard scoring drive that used 8:08. Louisville only had one scoring drive of more than 16 plays last year (19 play, 80-yd TD drive against UConn).
Froman finished the first half going 7-for-13 for 55 yards, while Powell led the ground attack with 35 yards on 10 carries during the first 30 minutes. The first quarter also featured a 67-yard return by Anderson, his longest career return. The return started the four-play, six-yard scoring drive that ended in Philpott's first field goal to start the second quarter.
After trailing 20-6 at halftime and 23-6 in the third quarter, Louisville's comeback attempt started with Powell's 80-yard score with 8:41 left in the third. The Cardinals' rally continued late in the fourth quarter on Philpott's third field goal of the game, the 27-yarder with 3:16 to go which followed a 17-play, 71-yard scoring drive for the Cardinals that lasted 7:08.
However, that was as close as Louisville would get as UK earned three first downs to run out the clock and escape with the win. Saturday's attendance record surpassed the previous high of 43,217 versus West Virginia in 2006.
Up next, the Cardinals will host Eastern Kentucky University at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be televised locally by WHAS-TV.
