Pitt hangs on to beat Rutgers

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — By the end of the first half of Saturday’s game against Rutgers, Pitt… PISCATAWAY, N.J. — By the end of the first half of Saturday’s game against Rutgers, Pitt had surpassed its season average in offensive yards and points.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ But someone forgot to tell the Panthers there was still another half of football left.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt gained just 67 yards on offense in the second half, but the Panthers held on and defeated the Scarlet Knights, 42-32, in front of a Homecoming crowd at Rutgers Stadium.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers (4-2 overall, 1-0 Big East) piled up 427 yards in the first half, including 347 yards through the air, to take a 42-7 halftime lead. But Rutgers (3-4, 0-3) found a way to get back into the game, scoring 25 unanswered points — including a 19-point third quarter.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘We played physical and gave 110 percent, but something wasn’t right,’ defensive end Claude Harriott said. ‘They outcoached us in the second half by making adjustments.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s very frustrating because ‘hellip; they’re giving us everything we want, it’s just we’re not executing,’ quarterback Rod Rutherford added. ‘It was going so well in the first half and to have it go so bad in the second half is definitely frustrating.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ After running back Brian Leonard scored his fourth touchdown of the game, with 4:27 to go to pull Rutgers within 10, Pitt was unable to run’ out the clock.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Scarlet Knights got the ball back with 2:28 to go in the game and quarterback Ryan Hart wasted little time moving the ball down the field. Hart completed a pass for six yards to wide receiver Shawn Tucker and another pass for five yards to wide receiver Jerry Andre.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ With a little more than 90 seconds remaining, Hart, who threw for a career-high 384 yards, looked deep for wide receiver Marcus Daniels.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Daniels had found his way behind the defense, but Hart’s pass was too short and safety Tez Morris stepped up and made the interception, sealing the win for Pitt.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s disappointing, but it would be more disappointing if we lost,’ head coach Walt Harris said. ‘Obviously, we let [Rutgers] off the hook sometimes, but it wasn’t totally the defense’s responsibility. They preserved the victory. [The offense] put them in some bad situations.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ For the second week in a row, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald recorded all of his numbers in the first half, catching eight balls for a career-best 205 yards and two touchdowns. Fitzgerald has now scored a touchdown in a Big East- and Pitt-record 12 straight games, one shy of the national record set by MichiganState’s Charles Rodgers last season.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rutherford also set a career high, passing for 381 yards to go along with three touchdowns on 22-of-38 passing, however, he completed just two passes after the first half.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers’ running woes continued; most of the team’s 113 yards rushing yards came on running back Jawan Walker’s 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. The defense also struggled, and the Knights became the third team to compile over 500 yards against Pitt’s defense this year, outgaining the Panthers 516 yards to 494.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘First half seemed that everything we were doing was working,’ offensive tackle Rob Petitti said. ‘It seemed a little too easy and obviously, Rutgers went in and made some adjustments. Their coaches did a good job and made it a little harder for us.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt looked as if it would continue moving the football in the second half, marching down to the Rutgers’ 23 on its first possession of the half. But David Abdul’s field goal try from 40 yards out went wide right and the Knights’ offense took over.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Hart found Tucker in the flat and, after picking up a block from a lineman, Tucker ran 28 yards for the first down.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rutgers then handed the offense over to running back Justin Hairston.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Hairston ran the ball five times on the drive for 35 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run. Ryan Sands’ kick was blocked by J.J. Horne and Pitt led 42-13.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers failed to pick up a first down on their next drive and Rutgers put together a 12 play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Hart to Leonard. This time, Sands extra point was good and the Knights trailed 42-20.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rutgers would score again in the quarter after recovering a fumbled snap at Pitt’s 24-yard line. Three plays later, Leonard plowed his way into the end zone, carrying three Panthers with him. Rutgers tried for the two-point conversion, but Hart’s pass fell incomplete.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘It’s not a different problem [every week]; it’s the same thing,’ Harriott said about the defense. ‘It’s just staying focused. Guys probably took their foot off the gas a little bit and so we relaxed. It’s surprising that we have so many veterans on our defense, but we’re still learning.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Panthers started the scoring on their first drive of the game. Rutherford was able to find Fitzgerald early, hitting the receiver for gains of 17- and 40-yards, the second of which put the ball at the Rutgers’ 24-yard line.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Four plays later, Walker ran untouched behind the left side of the line for the touchdown, the first of his Pitt career. Abdul kicked the extra point to give Pitt the 7-0 lead.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ Rutgers was able to drive down to the Pitt 37-yard line on its first possession, but Hairston fumbled and cornerback Shawntae Spencer fell on the loose ball.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ On the first play, Rutherford found Fitzgerald for a 47-yard gain, but the Panthers could not advance any farther. Abdul came on to try a 39-yard field goal, but the kick sailed wide right.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘If you know [what’s wrong with Abdul], I’d like to know,’ Harris said about the kicker, who has connected on just 4-of-10 field goals this season. ‘I think that he kicked a couple better today, in terms of how he hit the ball, but he’s got to be more consistent.’

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The Knights were unable to move the ball, and Rutherford moved Pitt back into Rutgers’ territory, culminating the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kris Wilson.

‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ The offense scored four more times in the second quarter, providing Pitt with enough points to hold on and pull out the victory.