Some people are once again considering Pitt the favorite to win the Big East. While the… Some people are once again considering Pitt the favorite to win the Big East. While the opening-day loss to Bowling Green dampened the season, the 26-21 defeat over South Florida Thursday night helped the Panthers regain respect. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said the game plan against South Florida was to be aggressive, and Pitt was exactly that, crushing the already slim national championship hopes of USF fans at Raymond James Stadium. Pitt did it in a different way than usual. A 22-yard touchdown pass with less than six minutes left in the fourth quarter gave USF a 21-20 lead. And while the defense came through with the wins in the last two weeks, the Panthers’ offense responded with a three-play, 60-yard drive that brought the score to 26-21. Even though the two-point conversion was a failure, Pitt’s defense hung tight for four more minutes to seal USF’s fate. It was the third-straight game in which Pitt trailed in the fourth quarter but pulled out the win. ‘You got to recognize the conditioning and mental toughness of our team in the second half,’ said Wannstedt. Take a look at the defense Trailing in the fourth quarter in three of the last four wins, the Panther defense has put a lot of pressure on the their opponent’s offense, containing offensive threats like South Florida quarterback Matt Grothe. With 12 tackles, only three for a loss, and two sacks against the Bulls, senior linebacker Scott McKillop is a guaranteed defensive force for the Panthers. In addition to McKillop, big stops by Greg Romeus, Austin Ransom and the rest of the defense have created essential momentum shifts for the Panthers. ‘I thought they played good the whole game,’ said Wannstedt. ‘We kept [Grothe] out [of] the end zone, and our defensive line did a good job of not letting him get comfortable.’ ‘ Under defensive coordinator Phil Bennett’s instruction, the defense has been a key factor in the last three Panther victories. Pitt in the redzone The Panthers were 4-for-4 in red-zone scoring against the Bulls, totaling 17-for-17 in redzone scores this year. Much of this success is because of the numerous offensive threats from the backs to the kickers. Pitt is also 8 of 9 on fourth down attempts on the year. ‘The offense is starting to come together, and that makes it easier on everyone,’ said Pitt tailback LeSean McCoy. ‘I think I get better with each carry, and the switch between me and [LaRod Stephens-Howling] is going well.’ McCoy ran for two touchdowns in the USF victory.’ McCoy also had a game high of 142 yards, making it his second consecutive game of 100 yards or more. Before Thursday, USF hadn’t allowed more than 76 yards on the ground all season. Reliable Pitt kicker Conor Lee also contributed three points in the fourth quarter, kicking a 31-yard field goal to bring Pitt’s lead to six. Lee also extended his perfect extra point conversions to 87-87.’ It also moved him to fifth place on Pitt’s career scoring list. Looking into the future Several young players made a big difference for the Panthers Thursday night. Freshman Jonathan Baldwin made two first-quarter catches for Pitt, including a 52-yard touchdown reception for the Panther’s first points. The touchdown was the first of Baldwin’s career. Quarterback Greg Cross also made a first-quarter appearance for Pitt, running for a total of 8 yards. Although Cross didn’t play much after the first quarter, his potential running ability can be vital to diversifying the run for the Panthers. Battle in the Big East Pitt beat USF for the first time since 2005, tying the overall series, 3-3. With the win, the Panthers move to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Big East. While it’s possible the win will put Pitt back on the national stage, that’s not the team’s concern. ‘Right now we’re just going to get ready for Navy,’ said Wannstedt.