Football: Both Huskies and Panthers plan on using dual running backs

For Connecticut quarterback Cody Endres, homecoming comes a week early.

The Washington, Pa., native returns to the area to lead his Huskies (3-1) against the Pitt Panthers (4-1, 1-0 Big East) this Saturday at Heinz Field. The Huskies host Louisville the following Saturday for their homecoming game.

“I do remember seeing him play [in high school],” Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We were recruiting some guys at Thomas Jefferson [High School in Jefferson Hills, Pa.] who played against him. It doesn’t surprise me that he earned the starting job [at Connecticut].”

In three starts this season, Endres completed more than 63 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception. On the season, Endres is 38-60 for 466 yards with two touchdowns.

One reason Endres hasn’t passed much is because Connecticut heavily relies on the run. The Huskies divvy up handoffs between two solid backs. Sophomore Jordan Todman and senior Andre Dixon each average five yards per carry.

“You would have thought with the graduation of Donald Brown, who led the nation in rushing a year ago, that there would have been a drop off with their execution to the running game,” Wannstedt said. “That has not been the case at all.”

The game Saturday marks Connecticut’s first Big East matchup of the year. The Huskies, who were picked in a preseason media poll to finish sixth in the conference, have surpassed expectations this year and are currently tied for third. Connecticut has also racked up 82 points in its last two games.

“Anytime you play four football games and you put up numbers like that, your statistics don’t lie,” Wannstedt said.

Part of what makes this Pitt’s toughest test so far is the Connecticut defense, which boasts the nation’s fourth overall defense. Cornerback Robert McClain III leads the Big East with three interceptions and defensive end Lindsey Witten leads the conference with eight sacks.

“From an offensive standpoint, this will be by far our biggest offensive challenge of the year,” Wannstedt said.

Like the Huskies, the Panthers also plan to use two running backs throughout the game. Freshman Ray Graham had his best game as a Panther last week and is expected to keep getting more carries as the season goes on.

Graham rushed for 75 yards on 12 carries — which matched his career total entering the game — and scored his third touchdown of the year. On the touchdown drive, Graham carried six straight times and nine times during the 12-play drive.

Wannstedt said the freshman tailback’s play is encouraging.

“I feel better about him being in a football game and being able to handle the ups and downs that happen during the course of the game,” Wannstedt said. “Up until last week’s game, it was all potential.”

While Graham played well last week, fellow freshman Dion Lewis continued to shine as the leading half of Pitt’s freshmen running back duo. Lewis leads the nation in rushing yards among freshman, and he is on pace to break LeSean McCoy’s Pitt freshman scoring record of 90 points, set in 2007.

Wannstedt said he expects Connecticut to blitz heavily, so the offensive line will have a tough task starting the running game, as well as protecting quarterback Bill Stull. So far this season, the Panther offensive line has been up to the challenge. Opposing defenses have sacked Stull just three times this season, and the line has collectively committed just one holding penalty all year.

“[Offensive line coach Tony Wise] does an unbelievable job with these kids,” Wannstedt said.

The Panthers aren’t without injury, though. According to Wannstedt, Cameron Saddler, who tops all Big East kick returners with 31.5 yards per return, will miss the game because of a left ankle sprain suffered against Louisville. Saddler could miss several weeks.

Conversely, cornerback Elijah Fields is expected to play. He also suffered a left ankle sprain against the Cardinals.

The defense, with or without Fields, must continue to improve if the Panthers are to beat Connecticut. Tackling and avoiding costly penalties remain a priority, Wannstedt said.

“A couple of the penalties that we had [against Louisville] — late hit, a pushing penalty, a holding — those things in my mind could all have been avoided,” he said. “I know our guys understand the importance of it.”