Since “seven” is a magic number in football, we decided to look for the seven most memorable performances for Kentucky in its annual game with Louisville.

Here they are, ranked in my opinion of their significance:

1994: Donte Key saves the day

After pushing for the series with his alma mater for several years, UofL coach Howard Schnellenberger was headed for a victory in the first installment–until Donte Key came to the resue.

With the game tied at 14, Key forced a fumble at the Cards’ 33-yard line and from there, UK marched in for what turned out to be the winning score. But Key wasn’t done. Louisville drove to the Kentucky 19 in the game’s final minute, only to have Key pick off a Marty Lowe pass to seal the Wildcat victory.

Key won a national player-of-the-week award for his performance. And it would turn out to be UK’s only victory that season.

2008: Myron Pryor rumbles

Kentucky was looking for its first set of back-to-back wins against its arch rival since 1998 and the Wildcat defense made sure that goal would be achieved.

UK limited UofL to only 205 total yards and forced five turnovers. The last one was a fumble, picked up by 300-pound defensive tackle and Louisville native Myron Pryor. The big fella rumbled to paydirt, opening up in not-quite-Secretariat-like fashion on a Louisville lineman who gave a futile chase.

Pryor became a media darling, thanks in part to the fact that the cameras didn’t catch him loosing his lunch on the sidelines after his triumphant jaunt to the promised land for linemen.

2009: Randall Cobb’s game-winner

Late-game heroics from Randall Cobb became the norm in his time at Kentucky and he needed every inch of his sub-six-foot frame to make the game-winning play in this 31-27 Wildcat win over the underdog Cards.

With under five minutes play and the Big Blue Nation in fear of an unexpected setback, Cobb came up big. Fade patterns are normally thrown to tall receivers but as we all know, Cobb was a break-the-mold kind of player. He climbed the ladder to snatch a floating Mike Hartline pass for the touchdown that put the Cats ahead to stay.

2002: Ragone takes a pounding

Louisville brought a number 17 national ranking into this matchup and appeared headed for a then unprecedented fourth straight win in the rivalry. That is, until the game started and the Kentucky defensive front began pounding away at UofL quarterback Dave Ragone.

With tackles Jeremy Caudill and Dewayne Robertson taking turns making hits on Ragone, the Cards’ QB managed to complete only 14 of 39 passes and Louisville could muster only 55 net rushing yards.

Taylor Begley nailed three clutch field goals and Ernest Sims turned a short pass from Jared Lorenzen into a 63-yard score and Kentucky held on for a 22-17 upset win.

1998: Tim Couch’s big day

It was the grand opening for Louisville’s new stadium but Tim Couch and Craig Yeast stole the show.

“The Deuce” completed 29 of 39 passes for a school-record 498 yards. The 801 total yards of offense was also a school record and Yeast caught nine balls for 150 and two scores.

1997: Tim Couch throws three first-quarter TD passes

This performance by Couch ranks higher only because it made more of a statement.

Kentucky had been defeated decisively the previous two years but new coach Hal Mumme’s Air Raid offense had rejuvenated the fan base. This debut mission would be the proof of the promise of a more exciting style of play as Couch connected on three touchdown passes in the first quarter of a 38-24 win.

2007: Stevie Johnson’s catch

Louisville was ranked ninth in the nation as it south a fifth straight win over UK and it looked like that would happen when a 15-yard penalty pushed the Wildcats back to their own 43 on their final drive.

But then “Stevie got loose,” as fans have dubbed the play that turned the game around. Andre Woodson found Stevie Johnson on a 57-yard touchdown throw that provided what I would guess is one of the top three ovations in Commonwealth Stadium history.

Johnson was so wide open that he said his biggest concern was keeping a straight path to the endzone once he made the catch.

So how does this compare to your list?