LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Tony Stallings rushed for a career-high 155 yards
and Dave Ragone threw two touchdown passes to Deion Branch to lead
Louisville to a 38-21 victory over Memphis on Saturday in the Conference
USA opener for both teams.
Ragone, who leads the league in passing efficiency, went 15-of-27 for 207
yards without an interception for the Cardinals (4-1, 1-0), who beat the
Tigers for the eighth time in the last nine meetings. Branch had five
catches for 134 yards, the third time this season and eighth time in his
career he’s gone over 100 yards receiving.
Stallings, last year’s leading rusher who’s been hampered by knee
problems this fall, had two fourth-quarter touchdown runs. His 45-yarder
with 2:22 left in the game was Louisville’s longest from scrimmage this
season, and put Stallings over 100 yards rushing for the fourth time in
his career.
Freshman running back Lionel Gates added 68 yards on 16 carries with a
touchdown in his first action.
Dante Brown rushed 16 times for 119 yards and a touchdown to lead the
Tigers (2-2, 0-1). Danny Wimprine threw two touchdown passes late in the
fourth quarter when the game was decided.
Louisville’s offense rushed for a season-best 235 yards and took control
of the game after a shaky opening series.
On the Cardinals’ second play from scrimmage, Memphis linebacker Greg
Harper hit Ragone, forced a fumble and pounced on the loose ball at the
Louisville 22. Brown scored on a 1-yard run 2 minutes later.
The Cardinals, averaging only 106 rushing yards per game, had more yards
on the ground on their answering drive (53) than they had in all of last
week’s 34-10 loss to Illinois (29).
Ragone found Branch in the end zone from 10 yards out for the tying
touchdown with 8:27 left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals chewed up 6{ minutes on their next drive and Nathan Smith
kicked a 27-yard field goal on the second play of the second quarter to
put Louisville ahead for good.
A quick strike from Ragone to Branch extended the lead late in the second
quarter.
On first down from the Louisville 31, Ragone dumped a short pass to
Branch, who found a seam in the defense and raced untouched down the
sideline for a 69-yard touchdown with 5:17 left before halftime.
Branch finished the first half with four catches for 122 yards.
Gates, a Jacksonville, Fla., product, scored his first touchdown on a
3-yard run late in the third quarter for an eventual 24-7 Louisville lead.
