Panthers crush Orange by 10

SYRACUSE, N.Y. ‘- Pitt overcame two 11-point deficits thanks to a powerful running attack and a… SYRACUSE, N.Y. ‘- Pitt overcame two 11-point deficits thanks to a powerful running attack and a staunch defensive effort in the second half to top Big East rivals Syracuse, 34-24, Saturday. The Panthers (3-1, 1-0 Big East) scored 21 unanswered points, including 18 in the fourth quarter to win their third straight contest after falling in the season opener to Bowling Green. Running backs LeSean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling combined for 220 of Pitt’s 241 rushing yards against the Syracuse defense. McCoy tallied his first 100-yard game of the year, achieving 149 yards on 28 carries, while Stephens-Howling added 71 yards on 13 rushes and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Panther defense limited Syracuse to only 263 total yards and didn’t allow a point in the final 27:20. Pitt received quite a scare from the Orange (1-4, 0-1 Big East). Syracuse running back Curtis Brinkley carried 16 times for 119 yards, and Cameron Dantley threw for two scores in the losing effort. On the game’s first drive, Conor Lee kicked the first of his school-record-tying four field goals, a 40-yarder, to put Pitt ahead. But Mike Holmes returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a score to pump some life into the dormant Syracuse crowd. Syracuse extended its lead to 14-3 after quarterback Cameron Dantley found Donte Davis for a 27-yard score. Pitt charged back, scoring on its two second quarter drives. Lee kicked a 43-yard field goal, and Dorin Dickerson hauled in a 2-yard score for his first career touchdown catch to cut the deficit to 14-13. The Orange tacked on a field goal as time expired before halftime, and put more pressure on the Panthers on the opening drive of the second half. Holmes broke a second long return, this time reaching his own 44-yard line. Five plays later, Dantley lobbed a perfect pass to freshman Van Chew for a 36-yard touchdown. Patrick Shadle’s extra point put Syracuse up, 24-13. But Pitt took control from there. Lee kicked a 44-yard field goal on Pitt’s next drive to cut it to 24-16. After forcing a punt, Pitt’s offense drove down the field for an 11-play, 89-yard drive, culminated by Stephens-Howling’s 9-yard scamper that resulted in a tie score at 24-24. The defense held again, and Lee notched his fourth straight field goal, this one from 25 yards out, to give Pitt its first lead since early in the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, defensive end Greg Romeus broke into the backfield and sacked Dantley, forcing a fumble. With the ball tumbling on the turf, Jabaal Sheard leapt over a fallen offensive lineman and pounced on it. The Panthers ran the ball eight straight plays after the fumble, and Stephens-Howling put the game away with a 3-yard touchdown run. ‘ More details in tomorrow’s Pitt News