Memphis Falls to Louisville 56-0

Saturday, October 9

Louisville, KY

2:00 PM

University of Memphis

1-5

University of Louisville

3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

MEMPHIS

LOUISVILLE

Ryan Williams completed 15-of-27 passes for 174 yards and one interception.

Oct 09, 2010 | Football

Box Score

Oct. 9, 2010

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By: Preston McClellan

LOUISVILLE, Ky.-- Louisville scored 35 points on the strength of 380 total yards in the first half en route to defeating Memphis 56-0 at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium Saturday. It was Memphis' first visit to Louisville since 2003 when the Tigers won that contest 37-7.

The two longtime rivals played to nearly a standstill in the first quarter. The Cardinals only outgained the Tigers 82-59 in yardage, and Memphis nearly doubled up Louisville in time of possession at 9:13-5:47. The Tigers pushed the ball into Cardinal territory twice in the opening period, but the Louisville defense picked off a Ryan Williams pass to halt the Tigers' best early scoring drive.

The home team, though, broke through late in the first period. The Cardinals struck with 1:56 remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Adam Froman tossed a 39-yard scoring strike to Cameron Graham to give Louisville a 7-0 lead. The score was the first of five-consecutive drives that ended in touchdowns for Louisville.

And it didn't take long for the Cardinals to add to their lead. After forcing a Memphis punt on its next possession, Louisville took over on the Tiger 48 yard line. On their first play from scrimmage in the second quarter, the Cardinals used a little trickery from their "Wild Card" formation. The end result was Froman hit a wide-open Josh Chichester on a flea-flicker style play to increase Louisville's lead to 14-0.

The Tigers piled up 100 yards in the second quarter, but managed only one deep drive in Louisville territory. Memphis began its second drive of the period on its own 20 yard line and moved the ball to the Cardinal 25, setting up a field goal opportunity. Paulo Henriques' 42 yard attempt, though, missed just left of the upright.

After the missing, the Cardinal offense continued to click and added two more scores before halftime. The first came on the first play after Memphis' missed field goal as Bilal Powell took the handoff and raced 74 yards to give Louisville a 28-0 lead.

The Cardinals tacked on one more touchdown before the half as Froman hooked up with Josh Bellamy for the second time in the second quarter, and Louisville took a 35-0 lead into the break.

Louisville continued its assault on the first two drives of the second half. The Cardinals received the second-half opening kick-off and marched 69 yards in eight plays to extend their advantage to 42-0. On the second scoring drive, Louisville put together a seven-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a Justin Burke-to-Andrell-Smith four-yard touchdown connection for a 49-0 lead.

Louisville added another score in the fourth quarter for the 56-0 final.

While the Cardinal offense took the spotlight, the Louisville defense also played well. The Cardinals held Memphis to 223 of total offense, including only 39 yards on 34 carries. The Tigers converted only 3-of-16 thirds down conversions and did not scratch on the scoreboard despite winning the time of possession battle 33:14-26:46.

Williams finished with 174 yards on 15-of-27 passing and one interception. He was replaced in the fourth quarter by Cannon Smith after suffering an injury.

Jerrell Rhodes led the Memphis ground game, totaling 49 yards on 11 carries. Williams' favorite targets were Jermaine McKenzie and Marcus Rucker. McKenzie posted a career high with 71 receiving yards on three catches, while Rucker caught a team-high five passes for 32 yards.

Memphis punter Tom Hornsey averaged 41.9 yards on 10 punts and had three of his punts downed three inside the 20.

Jamon Hughes and Marcus Ball led the Tiger defense with seven tackles apiece.

For Louisville, Powell finished the game with 204 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns. Froman rolled up 235 yards on 12-of-16 passing and four touchdown passes. Bellamy led all receivers with six receptions for 112 yards and two scores.

Darius Ashley led the Cardinal defense with seven total tackles and two sacks. Antwone Canady added four hits and one sack.

Memphis returns to the Bluff City for a tilt with Conference USA rival Southern Miss. The game is slated for an 11 a.m. (CT) start at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.