By Randy Burns
Cardinals find redemption runs through the Pirates
By Randy Burns
Sports Intern
The Cardinals executed their game plan better this week after a disappointing loss to TCU. The team hit on all cylinders to hand the visiting Pirates of East Carolina their first Conference USA loss of the season. Louisville’s senior quarterback Dave Ragone played a flawless game while the rushing attack kept the Pirates defense guessing all afternoon. Ragone posted amazing stats with 352 yards through the air on 23 of 32 passing, no interceptions, and a career high 5 touchdown passes. He even broke a record that was once held by former UofL quarterback Chris Redman. Midway through the third quarter, with the Cards driving deep in Pirate territory, Ragone completed his 18th consecutive pass of the game. “I think we had a good game plan,” said Ragone. “I got the ball out my hands quick. I felt really good and wasn’t trying to force anything.” ECU Head Coach Steve Logan commented on Ragone’s performance after the game. “I’m going to send that boy a graduation gift as soon as I get back home. He is quite a football player and he took a couple of freshman corners to school. This loss takes the Pirates to 2-5 overall and drops them to 2-1 in conference play.
Louisville racked up an astounding 556 yards of total offense on 77 plays for the game. Most of the offensive production, besides Ragone, came from senior wide receiver Damien Dorsey and senior running back Henry Miller. East Carolina’s secondary never had an answer for Dorsey’s career performance. He caught 9 passes for 158 yards and three touchdown catches. His longest reception came in the third quarter when he caught a pass for 52 yards which set up a Nate Smith 22 yard field goal. “We just wanted to do whatever it took to win today,” said Dorsey. “They just played a base defense, cover three, to keep everything in front of them. With Dave and I, it was just pitch and catch.” Sophomore wide receiver Joshua Tinch also played his position well by catching the ball six times for 78 yards and one touchdown. “As a receiver, when you’ve got a great quarterback like that, you know that if you get open, he is going to get you the ball.”
Unfortunately for the Pirate defense, the Louisville offensive line brought their A game to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. They opened up holes for Henry Miller and only gave up three sacks throughout the entire game. Miller carried the ball 18 times for 127 yards and a touchdown. He broke a long 37 yard run in the third quarter and averaged 7.1 yards per carry by the end of the day. “They weren’t being good tacklers out there,” said Miller. “And we just took advantage of it.” After breaking the long run, Miller capped off the drive with an 8 yard touchdown run that put the Cards in a commanding lead of 35-13. “Offensively, I thought we kept them off balance,” said Cardinal Head Coach John L. Smith. “A lot of that credit goes to our guys up front. They did a good job blocking and it was good to see.”
East Carolina could not get much going on the offensive side of the ball thanks in part to the Louisville defense. The team’s leading rusher, Art Brown, scored just once and only ran the ball for 56 yards and quarterback Paul Troth couldn’t find the end zone. Overall, the Cardinal defense only gave up two touchdowns and a pair of field goals to help the offense take over the game. Junior cornerback Josh Minkins intercepted Troth once during the game while junior defensive end Dewayne White and junior defensive tackle Scott Lopez combined for 3 sacks. “Our priority was to stop the run,” said senior defensive end Devon Thomas. “Stopping the run makes them have to pass it. I think we did an excellent job on our defensive line.”
Louisville lead the game early in the second quarter 14-10 when senior safety Curry Burns blocked a punt which ultimately sparked a Dave Ragone 18 yard touchdown pass to Damien Dorsey that put the Cards up 21-10. Louisville took a 28-15 score into the locker room at halftime and never looked back. East Carolina never saw the end zone again after Art Brown scored on a 1 yard run with 9:54 left in the third quarter. The game ended in a 44-20 Cardinal victory pushing Louisville’s record to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference. “We came out, played hard, and played with more enthusiasm,” said Coach Smith. “I’m proud of our guys.”
