Louisville-Missouri State Postgame Notes
September 08, 2012 | Football
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Louisville Postgame Notes
No. 23/24 Louisville 35, Missouri State 7
Papa John's Cardinal Stadium
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012
The Cardinals and Bears met for the first time in series history on Saturday afternoon, with Louisville securing a 35-7 victory. The Cardinals improve to 2-0, while the Bears drop to 0-2.
The last time the Cardinals faced an FCS opponent was last season, when Louisville defeated Murray State, 21-9, on Sept. 1, 2011. The game was the season-opener for both teams.
Louisville's game captains were Mario Benavides and Daniel Brown.
Missouri State won the toss and deferred. Louisville received to start the game.
Today's announced attendance was 47,553, the 11th-largest crowd in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium history.
Louisville's record against nonconference opponents since the 2002 season moved to 38-18.
Other records for the Cardinals: Louisville is 88-51-3 all-time against current members of the FCS Division; the Cardinals are 15-6-1 all-time against current members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
When scoring more than 20 points in a game under the direction of Charlie Strong, the Cardinals' record is 15-4. When holding opponents to 20 or fewer points, Louisville boasts an 11-3 mark under Strong.
The Cardinals finished the game with 131 yards on the ground and held the Bears to 99 yards. Of the Cardinals' 28 games under head coach Charlie Strong, Louisville has outrushed its opponents 19 times.
After making his first collegiate appearance against Kentucky in the season opener, Sheldon Rankins earned his first career start at defensive tackle against Missouri State.
In his first career appearance, Matt Nakatani hit a 19-yard field goal to put Louisville ahead, 3-0. Nakatani tacked on his second field goal of the game in the fourth quarter and finished the game with two made extra points.
Others who saw their first time on the field: Gerod Holliman, Corvin Lamb, Mike Addesa and Alex Witcpalek.
The Cardinals powered their way to 475 yards of offense, making this the first time Louisville has surpassed 400 yards of offense in consecutive games since accomplishing the feat in 2010 against Memphis and Cincinnati.
Teddy Bridgewater continues to highlight Louisville's offense.
- He surpassed the 300-yard passing mark for the first time in his career in the third quarter and finished the game with 344 yards on 30-of-39 passing and two touchdowns through the air. On the ground, he rushed seven times for 15 yards.
- This is the first time the Cardinals have had a quarterback throw for more than 300 yards since Will Stein accomplished the feat last year against Florida International, when he went for 349.
- Teddy Bridgewater found Charles Gaines on a 55-yard completion on the second drive of the game. That was Bridgewater's second-longest completion of his career. He connected with Eli Rogers for 58 yards against Cincinnati in the second quarter last season.
- The last time a Cardinal quarterback finished the first quarter with more than 100 passing yards was last season, when Teddy Bridgewater went 7-for-7 for 124 yards against Syracuse on Oct. 29. He also threw for two touchdowns in the process.
- Bridgewater connected with eight different receivers in the first quarter: Nate Nord, DeVante Parker (three times), Charles Gaines, Eli Rogers, Damian Copeland, Jeremy Wright and Andrell Smith. Bridgewater finished the game by connecting with a total of 10 receivers.
- Teddy Bridgewater has remained calm on third downs, as he is 11-for-13 this season for 160 yards and one touchdown that down.
- Today marked eight-straight games, where at least nine different receivers tallied a reception.
Calvin Pryor registered the defense's first pick of the year late in the second quarter. It was his third career interception. Pryor also led the defense with eight solo stops.
Senorise Perry, who rushed for 72 yards on 19 carries, finished the game with a career bests in receiving yards (41) and receptions (4).
The Cardinals received strong tight end play against Missouri State. Nate Nord, who caught a touchdown, had a solid performance, registering career bests in receptions (4) and receiving yards (59). Ryan Hubbell made his debut as a Cardinal by catching one pass, a two-yard touchdown, late in the third quarter.
Lorenzo Mauldin recorded three stops in the game, including his first career sack that resulted in an 11-yard loss.
Jordon Paschal recovered the first fumble of his career and returned it 74 yards to set up a Louisville touchdown.
Louisville continues to make long-scoring drives of more than 60 yards a habit. Following 99-, 85- and 93-yard scoring drives against Kentucky in the season-opener, the Cardinals 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). Louisville has only scored on two drives that were less than 60 yards: 38 yards (touchdown vs. UK) and one yard (touchdown vs. Missouri State).
