Pitt fails to capitalize on chances

With about two minutes left in the second quarter, the scoreboards at Heinz Field… With about two minutes left in the second quarter, the scoreboards at Heinz Field malfunctioned and were turned off for the remainder of the game.

As if it mattered. At that point, the Hurricanes were already up 21-7 and were dominating the Panthers offensively. Miami had 263 yards on offense, compared to Pitt’s 72 yards.

Never mind the score and yards gained. This game was all about missed opportunities, and Pitt had more than its fair share.

Pitt scored on its first possession to go up 7-0 and intercepted a pass from Miami quarterback Brock Berlin on the very next drive.

“It was a great first drive – things were going good, and then you saw what I saw,” head coach Walt Harris said.

What fans saw was a chance to go up on Miami by more than one score, but the Panthers were called for a false start, making it first-and-15. Then the first of nine sacks of quarterback Rod Rutherford made it second-and-21, and Harris called two run plays on second and third downs, which went for a total of zero yards. Pitt then punted to Miami, who drove down the field to tie the game at seven.

Terrell Allen returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards, and Pitt was 28 yards from taking the lead.

But Rutherford was sacked for an 8-yard loss on first down, and on second, he threw a 3-yard pass to running back Brandon Miree. On third down, Rutherford completed a pass to wide receiver Princell Brockenbrough for a 14-yard gain – one yard shy of the first down.

With the first quarter clock winding down and fourth-and-one upcoming, Rutherford called a timeout.

“[There] was a lot of confusion,” Rutherford said. “I didn’t know what was going on.”

Rather than go for it, Harris opted to attempt a 37-yard field goal into the open end of Heinz Field, despite the fact that kicker David Abdul has had trouble kicking into the open end his entire Pitt career. And added to that were the 13-miles-per-hour wind gusting around the stadium. To no one’s surprise, Abdul missed the field goal, and Pitt again missed a golden opportunity.

Miami then drove 80 yards on 12 plays to go up 14-7.

On the next Panther drive, Pitt would move the ball to the Miami 41-yard line, but a rush for no gain, a false start penalty and a sack of Rutherford would lead to another Andy Lee punt.

“We shot ourselves in the foot,” Harris said.

Pitt continued to do that, and just when it seemed there were no more toes left, the Panthers managed to fire off another round.

Down 21-7, Pitt got the ball after halftime and drove to the Miami 14-yard line.

To walk away with any points would have been uplifting and positive for the Panthers, but Rutherford tried to squeeze a third-down pass to Fitzgerald. Miami free safety Sean Taylor intercepted it.

Pitt had its chances to win, but missed tackles and questionable play-calling came into play.

After 11 games this season, the defense still could not tackle. Two Miami running backs shook off would-be tacklers and ran for over 100 yards each – Jarrett Payton, with 131, and Tyrone Moss, with 115.

Questionable calls, such as run plays and designed quarterback draws, were made even when Pitt was down by 21 points.

Pitt had eight drives in the second half and only one went for a touchdown. Three were stopped by interceptions, and four ended in punts – including a drive where, with 9:05 left, down by 21 and dealing with fourth-and-seven, Harris opted to punt.

Now, Pitt’s regular season is over, and instead of getting a Bowl Championship Series berth, Pitt has opted to punt and go to the Continental Tire Bowl.