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WEST POINT, New York (Ticker) -- That's a lot of push-ups. Quarterback Joe Gerena ran seven yards for a touchdown in the second overtime as Army blew a 28-point lead before posting a thrilling 59-52 victory over Louisville in a wild Conference USA battle. Michael Wallace rushed for a school-record 269 yards on 19 carries for Army (2-3, 1-2 C-USA), which used its ground attack to built a lopsided 45-17 halftime advantage. But thanks to one of the most prolific aerial attacks in the nation, Louisville (3-3, 0-1) was able to erase that deficit in the second half and force the first weeknight football game in Michie Stadium history to overtime. The Cardinals took a 52-45 lead on the first OT possession when Frank Moreau scored on a 10-yard run. Army, which runs the option, was able to tie it through the air. On 4th-and-8 from the 9, Gerena found Branden Rooney for a touchdown. The Cadets won the ensuing coin toss and took the lead for good as Gerena scored from seven yards. He carried 25 times for 98 yards. Louisville had one more chance to keep the game going. But Lavell Boyd could not hold onto Chris Redman's pass in the back of the end zone. It was a busy night for the Corps of Cadets, which fills the stands and does one push-up for every point Army scores. Tonight's total was the highest for Army since scoring 59 points against Yale on October 5, 1985. The school record is 90 points against Bowdoin in 1920. The teams combined for 1,053 total yards. Army had the edge with 564, including 480 on the ground. Wallace was the story in the first half, scoring on runs of 32, 1, 78 and 67 yards as the Cadets opened a seemingly commanding lead. Wallace broke Charles Jarvis' school record of 253 rushing yards, set on October 9, 1968. However, the Cadets' defense proved no problem for Redman and Moreau in the second half. Moreau, who rushed for 150 yards on 27 carries, scored from one yard and Redman connected with Ibn Green from 18 yards in the third quarter, helping the Cardinals close within 45-31. The comeback was completed in the fourth quarter as Redman found Boyd for a five-yard TD and Moreau scored on another one-yard run. A Heisman Trophy candidate, Redman completed 36-of-50 passes for 366 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Green was Redman's favorite target, catching 11 balls for 153 yards. Arnold Jackson added 10 receptions for 97 yards.
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