Louisville-North Carolina Postgame Notes
September 15, 2012 | Football
Sept. 15, 2012
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Louisville Postgame Notes
No. 19/20 Louisville 39, North Carolina 34
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012
The Cardinals and Tar Heels met for the seventh time in series history. Louisville took a 4-3 series lead with a 39-34 victory Saturday afternoon at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. The Cardinals are 2-1 all-time when facing North Carolina in Louisville, winning the previous encounter, 69-14, in 2005.
With the win over North Carolina on Saturday, the Cardinals are 3-0 for the first time since the 2006 season, when Louisville opened the year at 8-0 before falling to Rutgers. The Cardinals went on to finish 12-1, which included a 24-13 win over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.
The Cardinals won three home games in a row for the first time under head coach Charlie Strong. The three-game home winning streak is the first since 2009, when Louisville defeated Southern Mississippi (25-23), Arkansas State (21-13) and Syracuse (10-9).
Louisville scored on each of its possessions in the first half, keeping the punt unit off the field. The last time the Cardinals went through the first half without having to punt was against Murray State in 2007, when Louisville scored 10-straight touchdowns and ended the game with a field goal. The last time Louisville accomplished it against a non-FCS opponent was against North Carolina in 2005 (Oct. 8), when the Cardinals weren't forced to punt until the third quarter.
The Cardinals boast a 39-18 record against nonconference foes since the 2002 season. Since head coach Charlie Strong took reins of the program over two years ago, Louisville is 9-6 in nonleague games.
Louisville's game captains were Andrell Smith and Adrian Bushell.
North Carolina won the toss and will receive. Louisville received the ball at the start of the second half.
Today's announced attendance was 53,334, the fourth-largest crowd in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium history.
Other records for the Cardinals: Louisville is 19-37-1 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
When scoring more than 20 points in a game under the direction of Charlie Strong, the Cardinals' record is 16-4.
North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora's record against Louisville moved to 0-3. The last time he faced the Cardinals was when he was with Southern Miss, and the Cardinals beats the Golden Eagles, 31-28, in the 2010 Beef `O' Brady's Bowl.
Hakeem Smith made his 28th-straight start.
The Cardinals now have eight rushing touchdowns, a total it took Louisville 10 games to reach last season.
Louisville has made quick work on offense this season, scoring on six plays or less six times this season. They accomplished the feat twice against Kentucky, once against Missouri State and three times against North Carolina.
The Louisville defense has yet to give up a point in the first quarter this season. The Cardinals are outscoring the opposition, 34-0, in the opening period.
Calvin Pryor registered his second forced fumble of the season, fourth of his career in first quarter. He finished with six tackles, giving him 23 for the season.
Adrian Bushell, who led the team with eight tackles, including a team-best five solo stops, recovered the second fumble of his career.
Eli Rogers' only reception of the game was a 15-yard touchdown reception.
The Cardinals finished the game with 183 yards on the ground and held the Tar Heels to just 47 yards. Of the Cardinals' 29 games under head coach Charlie Strong, Louisville has outrushed its opponents 20 times.
Jeremy Wright finished the game with a career-high 114 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. In the first half, he totaled 87 yards on nine carries and one touchdown.
Louisville's 36 first-half points are the most since the Cardinals scored 49 versus Murray State in 2007. Louisville's point total is the seventh-most in the first half since 2000.
Most Points in First Half, Year
1. vs. Murray State - 49 (2007)
2. vs. Cincinnati - 42 (2004)
vs. Temple - 42 (2006)
4. vs. North Carolina - 38 (2005)
vs. Middle Tennessee State - 38 (2007)
vs. Grambling - 38 (2000)
7. vs. North Carolina - 36 (2012)
Louisville's offense produced 360 yards in the first half, the most since 380 against Memphis in 2010. The Cardinals gained 200 yards via the pass and 180 on the ground.
Louisville's offense finished the game with 462 yards of offense, marking the Cardinals third-straight game with at least 450 yards.
Louisville continues to make long-scoring drives of more than 60 yards a habit. The Cardinals scored on three plays of more than 60 yards against North Carolina: 62 yards (touchdown), 84 yards (touchdown) and 69 yards (touchdown). Against Missouri State, Louisville had five scoring drives of more than 60 yards against Missouri State: 73 yards (field goal), 70 yards (touchdown), 83 yards (touchdown), 75 yards (touchdown) and 67 yards (field goal). Against Kentucky, the Cardinals had four scoring drives of more than 60 yards: 99 yards (touchdown), 85 yards (touchdown), 93 yards (touchdown) and 71 yards (touchdown).
Teddy Bridgewater continues to highlight Louisville's offense.
- Bridgewater finished the game by connecting with a total of 10 receivers.
- Teddy Bridgewater has remained calm throwing on third downs, as he is 16-for-22 this season for 213 yards and one touchdown that down.
- Today marked eight-straight games, where at least nine different receivers tallied a reception.
