Pitt fumbles away road contest

It was, in fact, a game of inches.

Inches made the difference between a touchdown and a… It was, in fact, a game of inches.

Inches made the difference between a touchdown and a first down, a clean hand and a fumble, a win and the resulting 24-17 loss for Pitt this Saturday against Louisville at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Despite a late drive catalyzed by freshmen Pat Bostick and LeSean McCoy, the Panthers (3-5, 1-2 Big East) fumbled away an opportunity to tie the Cardinals (5-4, 2-2) with 1:06 remaining.

“I just didn’t get it to him,” a teary-eyed Pat Bostick said of the game-ending goal-line fumble. “We don’t have much to show for [the game] because we didn’t make the play.”

With their backs against the wall, the Panthers turned to their two freshmen stars, McCoy and Bostick, to tie the game with only 1:46 remaining in the game.

McCoy started with back-to-back 19-yard runs, followed by a 7-yard gain. Each time, McCoy deftly maneuvered to the sideline to stop the clock.

On the following play from the Cardinals’ 20-yard line, Bostick connected with Pitt receiver Oderick Turner downfield. As Turner writhed his way toward the end zone, the ball appeared to clear the goal line. The play was initially ruled a touchdown, but was overturned by replay.

“We thought we scored, but crazy stuff happens in this game,” Bostick said. “We go off the field expecting it to be a tie ball game and hopefully get another shot to get the ball back.”

Still, the Panthers were convinced that they would score after the overturned touchdown.

“The conversation was already on to the next series almost,” Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt said. “We felt that confident.”

First down and goal from the 1, Bostick turned to hand the ball to McCoy. A flawed exchange resulted in a fumble. The ball took several bounces before a cloud of Louisville defenders pounced on it, effectively ending the game.

“These kids played as hard as they could play,” said Wannstedt. “There were a lot of plays in the game that could have made a difference. This was not one play. If these two guys continue to play like they did today, the University of Pittsburgh is going to win a ton of games and these guys are going to have great careers.”

Bostick threw for a season-low 136 yards, but did complete several crucial passes down the stretch to keep the Panthers within reach.

The freshman also learned valuable lessons from one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, as Louisville’s quarterback Brian Brohm displayed all the qualities that make him a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Brohm completed five of his seven passes in the first quarter, including a 6-yard pass to receiver Harry Douglas, who beat Pitt’s Shane Murray to the front pylon for the game’s opening touchdown.

Following the next Pitt series, Brohm pieced together another impressive drive, moving the Cardinals 68 yards in 12 plays.

The senior quarterback once again capped the drive by rolling to his right and finding the open receiver, this time it was tailback Anthony Allen, who scampered for the pylon to give Louisville the 14-0 lead three minutes into the second quarter.

With 2:45 left in the same quarter, Brohm took the field looking to drive the Cardinals to another score.

Brohm’s first pass of the series, however, was wide of his intended receiver and Pitt cornerback Aaron Berry grabbed his second interception of the season.

With the ball at the Louisville 27-yard line, the Panthers immediately capitalized. Bostick threw a short screen to tight end Darrell Strong.

After scampering a few feet to his left, Strong suddenly looked downfield and threw to a wide-open LeSean McCoy who walked into the end zone.

The Panthers offense fell silent again, however, until the fourth quarter.

Facing a 17-7 deficit, McCoy, who had been held to only 57 yards through the first three quarters, suddenly spun, slashed and powered his way to 63 fourth-quarter yards.

The most impressive and crucial of those carries came with 4:40 remaining. Facing a fourth down with 1 yard to go on the Cardinals’ 7-yard line, McCoy disappeared into a pack of red jerseys.

Rather than collapse for the first down, McCoy carried the pile 5 more yards all the way to the end zone to tie the game at 17.

“I think they started to get a little tired,” said McCoy. “We just started busting them up.”

True to form, Brohm exhibited his icy reserve.

He promptly led the Cardinals on a seven play, 70-yard drive. Junior tailback Brock Bolen punched in the go-ahead touchdown from a yard out to put Louisville back in front, 24-17.

That turned out to be the difference in the contest.

Heartbreak has been a theme for the Panthers this season. With the close losses to Michigan State, Navy, and now Louisville, Pitt is one loss away from falling out of bowl contention for the third consecutive season.