Panthers run over Ball State, 42-21

Despite a slow start, numerous penalties and the introduction of a recently activated… Despite a slow start, numerous penalties and the introduction of a recently activated center, Pitt (2-0) defeated the visiting Ball State Cardinals on Saturday, 42-21.

Neither team managed to score in the first quarter, extending the Panthers’ streak to two consecutive weeks, as Pitt also remained scoreless in the first quarter last week against Kent State.

“Our defense played very well early. The offense had tremendous field position and didn’t get [anything] done,” head coach Walt Harris said.

False starts also continually spoiled Pitt’s offensive aspirations in the game, particularly in the opening quarter, as the Panthers picked up the first three of their total five.

Harris dismissed claims that the false starts and other miscommunications within the offensive line could be credited to the first career start of senior center Rob Frederick, who was fresh off of an injury.

Frederick was recovering from a stress fracture suffered during summer training camp, and started for the injured Justin Belarski.

“It’s always a little bit rusty coming back when you’re off for a few weeks, but I think I got back into the swing of things pretty well,” Frederick said.

Harris added, “Whatever [Frederick] did good, to me, is very, very exciting. If he didn’t go very good, at times, that’s understandable. But I don’t think he has a problem.”Pitt broke onto the scoreboard early in the second quarter. Quarterback Rod Rutherford connected with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a 37-yard pass to cap a 54-yard drive, two minutes and 10 seconds into the quarter, and give Pitt a 7-0 lead.

“When you know what you’re doing and you’ve been there before, and you have a little bit of game experience, you start to see the shell and you start to see the defensive packages opening up and you’re just recognizing everything before it happens,” Fitzgerald said.

Harris described Fitzgerald as “one of the great talents that have ever played at the University of Pittsburgh.”

With the touchdown, Fitzgerald extended his scoring streak to eight games in a row with a touchdown, a Pitt record.

Little more than four minutes later, Brandon Miree rushed for a 24-yard gain and a touchdown of his own.

“There was a giant hole in the middle of the field,” Miree said. “Thankfully I didn’t get touched until I got to the end zone.”

But Ball State would answer with back-to-back touchdowns to even the score at 14 going into the half.

“They did a couple nice things; you know [Talmadge Hill, Ball State’s quarterback, is] no slouch. He’s played before, had quite a few starts. He looked like it. He’s a player,” Harris said.

After halftime, Pitt controlled the pace of the game, outscoring the Cardinals 28-7.

“First half, we just came out a little sluggish,” defensive back Bernard Lay said. “In the second half we just came out to play. Everybody just had to put it together and put on the breaks from the first half.”

Two minutes and 25 seconds into the third quarter, Rutherford delivered a 27-yard completion to senior Princell Brockenbrough for a touchdown.

“I actually thought they were going to go to Larry [Fitzgerald] like they always do,” Brockenbrough said.

“Rod threw it perfect and Princell made a big play. We’ve always thought that he could be a fine football player,” Harris said.

With the score then 21-14, Miree continued the offensive assault in the third quarter with a 5-yard touchdown run.

With five minutes and 58 seconds left in the third quarter, Pitt scored yet again.

Fitzgerald caught his second touchdown of the game and later refuted claims that he pushed off of the defender to reel in the pass.

“I just went up and grabbed the ball. I never push off. That’s not something I work on,” Fitzgerald said. “Unfortunately, he fell down and I was able to make the catch.”

In the final quarter, Pitt and Ball State exchanged touchdowns to finish the game. Miree rushed for his career-best third touchdown of the game, only four seconds into the quarter.

Ball State’s Larry Bostic caught a 3-yard pass for a touchdown to provide the final points of the game.

Harris remained disappointed with his team, even though the Panthers were able to double the score of Ball State.

“I feel like I didn’t do a good enough job, because I expected us to make a big improvement from week one to week two. And I don’t feel that, and I’m responsible for that,” Harris said. “We’ve got to stop them all the time. You know, offense is supposed to score all the time, that’s their job. But it obviously doesn’t happen every time.

“[Ball State] did a nice job. Give them credit, you know; some of it’s them, a lot of it’s us, most of it’s me.”