Louisville’s Victory Is a Struggle, 45-24

Louisville Coach John L. Smith has been disgusted by how his team has been practicing lately.

He wasn’t much happier after the Cardinals’ first game.

Louisville held New Mexico State scoreless in the second half and defeated the Aggies, 45-24, in the John Thompson Foundation Challenge Classic at Louisville, Ky.

“We could’ve played much, much better,” Smith said. “If we go to the practice field and we don’t have a sense of emergency, that’s exactly how we’re going to play. I’m disappointed, to say the least.”

Michael Brown and Devon Thomas returned fumbles for touchdowns, Dave Ragone threw three touchdown passes and Louisville scored four touchdowns after New Mexico State turnovers to win despite the Aggies’ 544-373 edge in total yardage.

Smith was afraid the Aggies’ option running attack might dominate his young defense, and it did. New Mexico State rushed for 407 yards and held the ball for more than 37 minutes.

“Hopefully, we can learn from this,” Smith said. “Our defensive tackles and ends got hammered.”

The Aggies led, 24-23, at halftime and were marching for another score early in the third quarter, but Kenton Keith fumbled a pitch from quarterback K.C. Enzminger at the Cardinal 19. Brown, a linebacker, picked up the ball and ran 81 yards untouched down the sideline with a convoy of teammates.

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The Bowl Championship Series has issued a clarification of its computer-driven selection formula, announcing that exempt games and conference championship games will now be included in all elements of the standings. However, as has been the case in past years, victories in exempt games and conference championship games will not be counted toward the nine-game victory total needed to qualify for the BCS at-large selection pool. . . . Willie Reid became the third Florida State receiver to suffer an injury in the last nine days. Reid injured his left ankle in practice.