Panther defense prepared to stop fiery Ute offense

Pitt heads into the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day having won six of its last seven games, but… Pitt heads into the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day having won six of its last seven games, but standing in its way is a team that has not lost a single game.

The Utah Utes (11-0) will pose a threat offensively to Pitt’s defense, but the Panthers are up to the challenge. Vince Crochunis, senior defensive tackle for Pitt, said that they were going to give the Utes all they can handle.

“We’re going to come out there and make that a game,” Crochunis said.

Utah averages 46.3 points per game, whereas Pitt’s defense has held opponents to 23 points per game.

“I know that they’re very innovative on offense,” head coach Walt Harris said of Utah’s scheme. “Their offense has got most of the accolades.”

Their offense will be matched up against a Pitt defense that features several young players who have stepped into the limelight and shown a national audience what they can do.

Freshman corner Darrelle Revis has earned several national awards for his first year in collegiate football. Fellow cornerback Josh Lay and Malcolm Postell, likewise, have made national news with their clutch plays. Postell has four interceptions on the year — three of which he returned for touchdowns.

Lay has three interceptions and returned one of them for a touchdown. Other key players on the defense include Crochunis and Stephens on the defensive line, with linebackers H.B. Blades and Clint Session lining up a few yards behind them.

Despite all the young, talented defensive players, Pitt is still a 16-point underdog going into the Fiesta Bowl. But if the Panther defense can play anything like it did against South Florida, West Virginia and Boston College, they will give their offense a shot at winning the game for them.

The offense is led by quarterback Tyler Palko, who has never thrown in the towel and will by no means allow his team to lose the game. Palko has fought with his team through adversity all season long, and did it all while throwing for 23 touchdowns on 2,816 yards. He also scampered for three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner against West Virginia.

“I really could care less about my statistics,” Palko said. “All that other stuff is nice, but it doesn’t win football games for you.”

On the other end of most of his passes was sophomore wideout Greg Lee. Utah’s defense will have its eyes on him because he lit up teams during the regular season for 1,204 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

However, if Utah zeroes in on Lee, Palko will have several other options in wideout Joe DelSardo, tight ends Erik Gill and Steve Buches and to running backs out of the backfield like Tim Murphy.

Murphy has also been a force on the ground, rushing the ball as of late. He has doubled his rushing stats since he returned to play against West Virginia. Prior to an injury, he had 147 yards rushing. After games against West Virginia and South Florida, his total has risen to 312 yards rushing, and he has pushed his season average up to 3.9 yards a carry.

All together, this Pitt team has surprised many with its late-season run to the Fiesta Bowl, and Harris is well aware of the surprise.

“This team was not rated in the top whatever,” Harris said of his now No. 19-ranked Panthers. “It’s a great honor for our football team and our football program”

It’s not just a great honor for the team. The game, which kicks off at 8 p.m. on Jan. 1, is a huge game for the seniors on the team.

“This is it,” Crochunis said looking back on his career. “Can’t ask to go out with a bigger bang than that.”