2007 Week 17

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee - Fans at the 49th annual Liberty Bowl were treated to two incredible offensive performances, as both teams scored 38 points in regulation, and a combined 42 in three overtimes as the Louisville Cardinals held off a late rally by the Wyoming Cowboys for a 60 -58 win, their first in four tries against Wyoming under head coach Joe Glenn.

Louisville started strong on both sides of the ball, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions, and holding the normally potent Cowboy offense to a single 33 yard field goal the entire first half.

Glenn must have done something right at half time, because the Cowboys came out energized and dominated the third quarter. The offense, led by senior quarterback Kenneth Wingate and a trio of talented receivers, stormed down the field for three consecutive touchdowns, and an inspired defense kept Louisville off the scoreboard. As the third quarter came to a close, Wyoming held a narrow 34 - 21 lead.

The Cardinals finally got back on track offensively in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 24 all with a short field goal on the opening play of the period. Wyoming responded with a touchdown, but Louisville came right back to tie it again at 31. The Cowboys' next drive stalled at midfield, and the Cardinals got the ball back at their own 17 yard line with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Two plays later, senior quarterback Michael Bush found receiver Emanuel Hassell streaking past the secondary for a 77 yard touchdown.

Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the drive took only nine seconds off the clock, and Wyoming took all of the remaining 1:42 to drive down the field, scoring the tying touchdown on a three yard scamper by senior tailback Johnny Connor to send the game into overtime.

In the extra sessions, neither defense could slow the opposing offense, as both teams scored three touchdowns. The difference was the required two point attempt at the end of the third period, when Connor was stopped just short of the goal line, giving Louisville the victory.

"Obviously, we would have liked to have won this game for all the seniors, but this team played with an incredible amount of heart today, and there is absolutely no shame in that," Glenn said.

"Louisville is a very talented team, and we have been fortunate enough to beat them the last three times. They were extremely determined today, and they deserve credit for their game plan in the first half. We clearly were not ready for what they threw at us."

Wyoming finishes the year with an 11-2 ledger, identical to the record they posted in 2006. Despite the season-ending loss, Glenn remained optimistic about the upcoming recruiting season.

"In our five years at Wyoming, this staff has done an incredible job selling this program to quality recruits, and I am supremely confident in our ability to continue that trend for the foreseeable future."