Aug. 31, 2008

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Kentucky
at Louisville

Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Ky.

Final Score: Kentucky 27, Louisville 2

• This was the season-opening game for both teams.
• Kentucky has a record of 80-33-5 in season openers, including 7-15-1 in season openers played on the road.
• Kentucky leads the series, 12-9, including 5-3 in games played in Louisville.
• Kentucky has won two in a row vs. Louisville for the first time since 1997-98.
• Kentucky has won 11 consecutive non-conference games, the longest since a 17-game win streak from 1954-60.
• Kentucky is now 49-29-5 vs. members in the current alignment of the Big East Conference.
• Rich Brooks now has 26 wins as head coach of the Wildcats, moving into a tie with Bill Curry for sixth place on the UK career coaching list.

Team Notes

• Holding Louisville to two points marked the first time UK held an opponent without an offensive score since a 25-0 shutout over Vanderbilt on Nov. 16, 1996
• Kentucky held Louisville scoreless in the first half. The last time that happened was Sept. 9, 2006, when the Wildcats shut out Texas State in the first half.
• Kentucky held Louisville to 53 rushing yards, the fewest since holding Mississippi State to 24 rushing yards in 2006.
• Kentucky held Louisville to 205 yards total offense, the fewest since limiting Eastern Kentucky to 202 yards in last year’s season opener.
• This was the first time that Kentucky had two defensive touchdowns in the same game since Sept. 27, 1986, in a 20-17 win over Cincinnati, when Chris Chenault and David Johnson had interception returns for touchdowns.
• Kentucky garnered five turnovers in the game, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries. The last time UK got five turnovers in a game was the 31-14 win over Ole Miss in 2006. It is interesting to note that Myron Pryor was a key figure in that game, as he had an interception, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Individual Notes

• In the second quarter, Myron Pryor caused a fumble that Ashton Cobb returned 28 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.
  • It is Pryor’s fifth caused fumble of his career
  • UK’s last fumble return for a touchdown was Trevard Lindley’s 66-yard return for a TD at Arkansas on Sept. 22, 2007.
• In the fourth quarter, Johnny Williams caused a fumble on a sack, which Myron Pryor returned 72 yards his first collegiate touchdown. It is Williams’ third caused fumble of his career.
• For the game, Pryor totaled three tackles, one tackle for loss, one caused fumble and one fumble return for a touchdown.
• Mike Hartline completed 16 of 31 passes for 147 yards, all career highs.
• Dicky Lyons had two pass receptions for 25 yards. He now has 1,513 career receiving yards, moving past Felix Wilson (1,508) for sixth place on the UK career receiving list.
• Cornerback Trevard Lindley intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter. It is the sixth interception of his career. It is the second-consecutive season that Lindley had an interception against Louisville.
• Safety Marcus McClinton had an interception in the fourth quarter, the seventh of his career.
• Freshman safety Matt Lentz got an interception in his first collegiate game.
• Tim Masthay continued his excellent kickoff work. Masthay, who led the Southeastern Conference in touchbacks last season, had four kickoff touchbacks today.
• Freshman Matt Roark deflected a Louisville field goal attempt in the first quarter. It is UK’s first field goal block Nov. 25, 2006 when Curtis Pulley blocked a field goal at Tennessee.
• Kentucky has blocked a kick in consecutive games as Roger Williams blocked a Florida State punt in the 2007 Music City Bowl.
• Center Jorge Gonzalez, offensive guard Jess Beets and quarterback Mike Hartline made their first collegiate starts.
• In addition, David Jones made his first start as a cornerback, as he had started previously as a wide receiver. Jones has the first two pass breakups of his career.
• E.J. Adams made his first start as a wide receiver, having started previously at cornerback. Adams had his first two pass receptions, good for 17 yards.

Governor’s Cup Records

• Kentucky intercepted three passes, tying the record set by UK in 2000.
• Dicky Lyons had six punt returns. The old record was five punt returns by UK’s Antonio O’Ferral in 1995.