Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
For the first time since Dave Wannstedt became Pitt's head coach, the Panthers managed to beat Rutgers Friday night as Pitt held on for a 24-17 win in Piscataway.
Dion Lewis had 180 yards and two touchdowns, as the true freshman now leads the FBS in rushing yards. Rutgers had just 27 rushing yards on 19 carries.
As usual, Pitt was its own worst enemy most of the night. Two missed field goals. A blocked punt. A fumble by Bill Stull. A punt return turnover. Bad penalties at the end of the first half. All those mistakes allowed the Scarlet Knights to hang around until the final 90 seconds. The Panthers' last two games and three of their last four have come down to the wire.
Regardless, Pitt is now 6-1 and alone at 3-0 in the Big East. A spot in the Top 25 probably awaits next week, since the Panthers were 26th in the AP poll this week.
Rutgers falls to 4-2 and 0-2 in the Big East, with both losses coming at home. The Scarlet Knights can kiss goodbye any thoughts of winning the league now, and they've got major offensive issues to solve. They'll have to win three of their last six to qualify for a bowl because of the two FCS teams on its schedule.
For the first time since Dave Wannstedt became Pitt's head coach, the Panthers managed to beat Rutgers Friday night as Pitt held on for a 24-17 win in Piscataway.
Dion Lewis had 180 yards and two touchdowns, as the true freshman now leads the FBS in rushing yards. Rutgers had just 27 rushing yards on 19 carries.
As usual, Pitt was its own worst enemy most of the night. Two missed field goals. A blocked punt. A fumble by Bill Stull. A punt return turnover. Bad penalties at the end of the first half. All those mistakes allowed the Scarlet Knights to hang around until the final 90 seconds. The Panthers' last two games and three of their last four have come down to the wire.
Regardless, Pitt is now 6-1 and alone at 3-0 in the Big East. A spot in the Top 25 probably awaits next week, since the Panthers were 26th in the AP poll this week.
Rutgers falls to 4-2 and 0-2 in the Big East, with both losses coming at home. The Scarlet Knights can kiss goodbye any thoughts of winning the league now, and they've got major offensive issues to solve. They'll have to win three of their last six to qualify for a bowl because of the two FCS teams on its schedule.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Andrea Adelson
Adelson joined ESPN.com in 2010 after spending time as a college football columnist at The Orlando Sentinel. She has covered college football since her days as a University of Florida student, and lives in Orlando, Fla.
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 12/17
Final Temple 37 Wyoming 15 Final Ohio 24 Utah State 23 Final San Diego State 30 Louisiana-Lafayette 32
Tuesday, 12/20
Wednesday, 12/21
Final 18 TCU 31 Louisiana Tech 24
Thursday, 12/22
Saturday, 12/24
Final Nevada 17 21 Southern Miss 24
Monday, 12/26
Tuesday, 12/27
Final Western Michigan 32 Purdue 37 Final Louisville 24 North Carolina State 31
Wednesday, 12/28
Final Toledo 42 Air Force 41 Final California 10 24 Texas 21
Thursday, 12/29
Final Florida State 18 Notre Dame 14 Final Washington 56 12 Baylor 67
Friday, 12/30
Final Brigham Young 24 Tulsa 21 Final Rutgers 27 Iowa State 13 Final Mississippi State 23 Wake Forest 17 Final Iowa 14 14 Oklahoma 31
Saturday, 12/31
Final Texas A&M 33 Northwestern 22 Final/OT Georgia Tech 27 Utah 30 Final Illinois 20 UCLA 14 Final Cincinnati 31 Vanderbilt 24 Final Virginia 24 25 Auburn 43
Monday, 1/2
Final 19 Houston 30 22 Penn State 14 Final Ohio State 17 Florida 24 Final/3OT 17 Michigan State 33 16 Georgia 30 Final 20 Nebraska 13 9 South Carolina 30 Final 10 Wisconsin 38 5 Oregon 45 Final/OT 4 Stanford 38 3 Oklahoma State 41
Tuesday, 1/3
Final/OT 13 Michigan 23 11 Virginia Tech 20
Wednesday, 1/4
Final 23 West Virginia 70 15 Clemson 33
Friday, 1/6
Final 8 Kansas State 16 6 Arkansas 29
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