The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Louisville
Blazers Fall To Louisville 41-21
11/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ---- Before UAB played at Louisville Saturday, one would have figured it would be Cardinal quarterback Dave Ragone who had a shot at a big game Saturday. The Louisville running game had experienced only limited success during the season.
But it was the UoL rushing game, led by a 135-yard performance from T.J. Patterson, that did the most damage and had a large part in sending the Blazers home with a 41-21 loss.
UAB (5-6, 4-3 Conference USA) will close out its regular season next Saturday when it travels to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats (12:00 p.m. CT).
"I did not think they could run the football on us like that," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "Nobody has in the last four or five weeks. I was very surprised they were able to do that and I think that was probably the difference in the game.
"They won every phase today and deserved to win the game, no doubt about it," he said. "We're disappointed, but at the same time, we still have a lot left to play for when we go to Cincinnati next week."
Darrell Hackney went 15-of-32 for 192 yards for the Blazers (5-6, 4-3).
Louisville's offense sputtered early, gaining nine yards on its first three possessions.
UAB's Nick Hayes had converted 14 of 15 field-goal attempts this season but missed from 53 and 27 yards to keep the game scoreless.
Following Hayes' second miss, Ragone fumbled and Nigel Eldridge recovered at the Louisville 10. Kendal Gibson scored on a 5-yard run less than a minute later.
Ragone atoned for his earlier miscue with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Damien Dorsey in the second quarter.
Louisville's defense held UAB to one first down the rest of the second quarter while the Cardinals' offense hit its stride.
 Quarterback Darrell Hackney is tackled by a Louisville defender during the first half.  |
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Lionel Gates scored his first touchdown of the season on a 16-yard run. Patterson had runs of 16 and 17 yards on the Cardinals' next possession, setting up Nate Smith's 27-yard field goal in the half's final minute.
The Cardinals had 150 yards rushing at halftime - more than they had in seven of their first 10 games.
Louisville safety Curry Burns blocked a Chet Ervin punt early in the third quarter to set up a touchdown pass from Ragone to reserve tight end Tone Slatter.
The Cardinals lead the nation with nine blocked punts and 12 blocked kicks. Burns and teammate Brandon Johnson lead the nation with three blocked punts apiece.
Smith tied a school record with a career-long 52-yard field goal in the third quarter for a 27-7 Louisville lead.
Patterson added a 6-yard TD run at the end of the third quarter.
Theron Dudley had a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter for UAB before Ragone threw a 12-yard TD pass to Antoine Harris. Ragone trotted off his home field for the last time with 5:23 remaining to a standing ovation.
UAB backup quarterback Thomas Cox threw a touchdown pass to T.J. Simmons with 1:19 left.
