CHRIS DUNCAN
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Tony Stallings burst up the middle on Louisville’s first play of overtime to give the Cardinals a 40-34 victory over Kentucky on Saturday night.
On the first possession of overtime, Anthony Floyd intercepted Jared Lorenzen’s pass.
Stallings dashed 25 yards untouched on the next play for the winning score, unleashing a wild celebration of Louisville’s players and coaches.
The Wildcats blew a golden opportunity to win the season opener in the final minute of regulation.
Linebacker Marlon McCree scooped up a fumble by Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone at the Cardinals’ 46 with 47 seconds left and returned it to the 2. But four plays later, safety Curry Burns blocked Brandon Sanders’ 18-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.
The blocked kick capped a wild fourth quarter that featured four touchdowns and three turnovers.
Louisville led 20-19 until McCree picked up Ragone’s fumble and took it 9 yards for a touchdown with 12:50 left. Zek Parker returned the ensuing kickoff to the Kentucky 30 and Ragone found Deion Branch for the tying touchdown just 45 seconds later.
Lorenzen threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Quentin McCord with 8:46 left before Chris Lester’s 3-yard touchdown run tied the game again.
Ragone and Lorenzen combined to throw for 578 yards and six touchdowns.
Lorenzen threw two 34-yard touchdown passes _ one to Dougie Allen and the other to Derek Smith _ in the first six minutes of the game to help Kentucky to a 13-0 lead.
The Cardinals marched into Kentucky territory on their first four possessions but only managed one score, on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Ragone to Branch with 3:56 left in the opening quarter.
The Wildcats led 19-7 after Lorenzen’s 1-yard touchdown run with 10:37 left in the first half.
Kentucky failed on a pair of 2-point conversion attempts in the first half.
Ragone led Louisville on an 80-yard touchdown drive just before a severe thunderstorm caused a 74-minute suspension of play. The game resumed at 10:30 p.m. EDT with about half of the stadium’s 42,000 seats filled.
Louisville took its first lead of the game at 20-19 on Stallings’ 1-yard touchdown run with 4:27 left in the third quarter.
