Final Stats?|?Quotes?|?Notes?|?Photo Gallery
By MURRAY EVANS
Associated Press Writer
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eric Shelton rushed for 151 yards and two touchdownsto lead Louisville to a 40-24 win Sunday night over Kentucky in the opener forboth teams.
The Cardinals took advantage of two punt miscues by Kentucky, built an18-point lead, weathered a rally, and drained the clock with two time-consumingdrives to seal the win.
It was the sixth win for Louisville in 10 meetings since the teams renewedtheir rivalry in 1994. The Cardinals have won four of their last five againstKentucky, including the last three on Kentucky’s home field.
Louisville recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown, scored a safety onanother botched punt and, after the free kick, scored a field goal to make it26-10.
The Wildcats drew within 26-24, but Louisville answered with a 14-play,81-yard touchdown drive. Shelton, a transfer from Florida State who attendedBryan Station High School in Lexington, scored on a 22-yard run.
Kentucky reached the Louisville 20-yard line midway through the fourthquarter, but Josh Minkins intercepted a pass by Jared Lorenzen with 8:17 left.
The Cardinals ran out all but the final six seconds on their final drive,which ended with Lionel Gates scoring on a 2-yard run.
A sudden, heavy thunderstorm delayed the start of the game by one hour, 34minutes. The delay didn’t appear to affect Louisville, which scored touchdownson its first two possessions. Gavin Smith set up the second touchdown with a41-yard interception return to the Kentucky 4.
The Cardinals, who recovered three blocked punts for touchdowns last season,did so again early in the second quarter. J.R. Russell smothered the punt bySevin Sucurovic from the Kentucky 46, and the ball caromed all the way to theend zone, where Jonathon Jackerson fell on it.
Up 21-3, Louisville reached the Kentucky 31 late in the first half, butStefan LeFors threw an interception. Kentucky scored with 45 before the half,on a 13-yard pass from Lorenzen to Glenn Holt. The Wildcats had just 96 yardsof offense before the 64-yard touchdown drive.
After Louisville went ahead 26-10, Lorenzen led consecutive touchdowndrives. Freshman Keenan Burton’s first career catch was a leaping 31-yardtouchdown grab and sliced Louisville’s lead to 26-24 entering the fourthquarter.
Lorenzen completed 18 of 21 passes for 236 yards.
