University of Connecticut Athletics
Louisville Game Notes
11/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2011
Series Notes
With the win over the Huskies, the Cardinals extended their lead in the series to 5-3 and have now won two-straight games versus Connecticut. The Cardinals picked up their first win at Rentschler Field sincee a 30-20 win in 2005.
Team Notes
With the win, the Cardinals are bowl eligible for the second-straight season with one game remaining in the season.
The Cardinals scored a season-high 34 points, which is the most since they tallied 27 versus Syracuse
The Cardinals are 4-2 in the league, which is the most wins in the league since the Cardinals went 6-1 in 2006. Louisville also evened its road record to 3-3
on the season.
Special Team Notes
CB Adrian Bushell returned the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, which tied a school record. He becomes the fourth player in school history to record a 100-yard kickoff return for a score and the first since Trent Guy against Kentucky in 2007. JaJuan Spillman went 100 yards against Rutgers in 2006 and
Broderick Clark also did it in 2002 versus Kentucky. It's the first kickoff return for a touchdown since Jeremy Wright went 95 against Southern Mississippi in the 2010 Beef `O'Brady's Bowl. It's also the fifth special teams touchdown for the Cardinals in 24 games of the Charlie Strong era.
Offensive Notes
FB Jarel McGriff-Culver, a walk-on, started at fullback in his first career start.
The Cardinals rushed for 126 yards against the Connecticut defense, which entered the game ranked sixth in the country in rushing defense, allowing just
89.9 yards per game.
The Cardinals scored 14 first-quarter points for the fourth time this season - also scoring 14 against Murray State, Syracuse and West Virginia. Louisville is
out-scoring the opposition 76-31 in the first stanza this year.
WR Michaelee Harris has caught a pass in all 11 games this season and continues to lead the Cardinals in receiving with 35 receptions for 438 yards. With
the three catches, he now is tied with Josh Tinch (2002) for fifth in receptions for a freshman (33 catches).
QB Teddy Bridgewater put the Cardinals ahead 21-10 in the third quarter with a five-yard run and later added a one-yard run for his third rushing score
of the year and the first two-touchdown rushing game of his career.
The Cardinals went ahead 21-0 on a 12-play, 95-yard drive that took 6:52 off the clock. The 95-yard scoring drive was the longest of the season, breaking
the previous best of 93 yards versus Marshall.
The Cardinals dominated the time of possession, 38:19 to 21:41.
Bridgewater completed 14 passes to nine different receivers.
Defensive Notes
DT Jamaine Brooks and DE Lorenzo Mauldin made their first career starts on defense. Brooks started at defensive tackle, while Mauldin, who was moved
back to defense this week after playing tight end since fall camp, started at defensive end.
S Hakeem Smith started his team-high 23rd straight game at strong safety. He finished the game with 10 tackles.
The Cardinals defense, which had given up an average of 464.5 yards of total offense, held the Huskies to 329 yards.
LB Dexter Heyman recorded 3.5 tackles for loss to lead the Cardinals, including one sack. He recorded his third career interception - all coming this season.
Also, he registered four tackles for loss, giving him 15 for the season. Should he get one more, he would tie for eighth for most tackles for loss in a season.
Defensive end Malcolm Mitchell recovered his first career fumble at the end of the game and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.
