University of Louisville
Duke
Football Drops Duke, 40-3
September 07, 2002 | Football
Sept 7, 2002
By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Dave Ragone threw for 258 yards and Louisville's defense held Duke without a first down in the opening 28 minutes as the Cardinals beat the Blue Devils 40-3 Saturday night.
Louisville (1-1), the favorite to win Conference USA for a third straight season, dropped out of the AP Top 25 after a surprising 22-17 home loss to Kentucky last Sunday.
But the Cardinals rebounded without much of a problem behind Ragone, a much improved offensive line and a stingy defense that recorded three sacks in the first quarter, including a safety.
Ragone was sacked three times and knocked down on 19 other occasions in the season opener. The senior had plenty of time to pass against Duke, going 18-of-24 in the opening half as the Cardinals took a 26-3 lead.
Last week, Duke (1-1) limited East Carolina to 155 total yards in a 23-16 win to snap the nation's longest losing streak at 23. But it went six straight series without a first down to fall into an early hole against the Cardinals.
After the early safety, Ragone hit his favorite target, tight end Ronnie Ghent, from 4 yards out for the first of his two first-half touchdown passes.
Ghent caught seven passes in the opening 30 minutes and finished with a career-high 10 receptions.
Five minutes before halftime, Trey McDonald's punt was blocked by Brandon Johnson, who then picked the ball up and raced 26 yards untouched for another Louisville touchdown.
Duke's only score of the half came on a 48-yard field goal by Brent Garber, who made a 56-yarder last Saturday against the Pirates.
Alex Wade, a 261-pound tailback who carried much of the load for Duke last weekend with 109 yards, was held to 13 on four carries as the Blue Devils abandoned the running game after falling behind.
Duke played without linebacker Brendan Dewan, who broke his left leg in practice Thursday. The freshman had an interception return for a TD and a fumble recovery in the opener.
