Football: Panthers manhandle Bulls for best start since 1982
October 24, 2009
Behind 265 yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Bill Stull, No. 20 Pitt scored 31 first half points and defeated South Florida 41-14 this afternoon. Win the win, the Panthers are 7-1 for the first time since 1982.
Stull hit redshirt freshman Mike Cruz for a 2-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter to give the Panthers (7-1, 4-0 Big East) a 7-0 lead — a lead they never gave up. Sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin caught a 40-yard touchdown pass and finished the game with 144 yards on six receptions.
The running game was again a strong point for the Panthers as freshman Dion Lewis scored two one-yard touchdowns. He had 23 carries for 111 yards. Lewis’ second touchdown run gave him 72 points on the season — the third most all-time for the Panthers. Ray Graham also found success on the ground behind 12 carries for 91 yards.
Senior Aaron Berry, redshirt junior Elijah Fields and sophomore Antwuan Reed each had an interception for the Panthers defense.
After Fields’ interception in the fourth quarter, redshirt freshman Tino Sunseri replaced Stull at quarterback. He capped a seven play- drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dorin Dickerson. Sunseri went 2-for-4 for 27 yards and one touchdown.
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