Blue tops Gold in annual game

The Pitt football team concluded its spring practices with its annual Blue-Gold… The Pitt football team concluded its spring practices with its annual Blue-Gold scrimmage at North Hills High School’s Martorelli Stadium.

Although the Blue won 31-21 on Saturday, the scrimmage’s outcome was essentially meaningless, since players switched teams and the second half featured a running clock.

With some starting positions already decided for the fall, the coaching staff seemed to focus their attention on a few key positions, mostly quarterback.

At quarterback, the starter has already been decided, with incumbent Rod Rutherford continuing to improve.

Rutherford led the Blue to one touchdown drive and another promising drive that ended with a fumble of his own deep in Gold territory. That is all the action Rutherford would see as the remainder of the scrimmage was a showcase of hopeful backup quarterbacks.

Tyler Palko opened the scoring of the game as he led the Gold on a 12-play, 64-yard scoring drive. The drive culminated when Palko scrambled in from 10 yards out for the touchdown.

Palko was not done scoring or impressing the crowd.

With seven minutes to play in the first half, Palko led a touchdown drive that was sparked by wide receiver Billy Gaines.

Gaines took an end around 24 yards, and two plays later, Palko found wide receiver Joe Stephens on a 15-yard out. Stephens would do the rest and take it in for a 30-yard touchdown catch.

Palko also led one more scoring drive during the waning minutes of the game. Running back Darren McCray would score from four yards out to make the final score 31-21.

But it would not all be good for Palko on the day.

At times, Palko threw into coverage, trying to make very difficult plays, which led to two interceptions, and should have been a third had safety Corey Humphries not dropped the ball. Humphries intercepted Palko earlier on in the day too.

Palko would finish 12 of 29 for 164 yards and one touchdown passing and one rushing, which went along with his two interceptions and 63 yards rushing.

Getsy, trying to seize the opportunity and out play his competition, would start his campaign by leading a field goal drive as a member of the Gold team.

Kicker J.B. Gibboney made the 22-yard field goal, but the big play on the drive was Getsy hitting Gaines for a 39-yard completion. Gaines had a huge day, finishing with five catches for 109 yards, and two rushes for 51 yards, both on end arounds.

Getsy would add several more scoring drives. With 4:45 left in the first half, Getsy added a 10-yard touchdown run of his own.

This drive was helped by two key catches. Wide receiver Yogi Roth caught a 20-yard pass, that continued the drive, and wide receiver Chris Curd made a tough tiptoe catch on the sidelines. Getsy would score three plays later.

Getsy would continue to impress the Panther faithful by throwing two more touchdown strikes. Getsy would finish 9 of 13 for 161 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with his rushing touchdown.

After the scrimmage, it was still unclear who would win the backup quarterback battle.

“I think they are both football players, but they are young football players,” head coach Walt Harris said. “They both did good things and things they would like to have back. This is going to be a real competitive battle for a long time.”

The other position that seems to have built up some interest is wide receiver.

Everyone knows about Larry Fitzgerald and what he can do, but the question still remains about who will be on the field with him. Several players made some noise trying to move up the depth chart and join Fitzgerald come the fall.

Gaines, one of the forgotten receivers who was hurt last year, was the games leading receiver and second leading rusher.

“Billy had a good day today, he can play, and he played better today than he did all spring,” wide receiver coach J.D. Brookhart said. “I think the one receiver position, will be up for grabs as we go into the fall.”

“The more receivers the better,” Rutherford said, and that’s what he has in Roth, Curd, Stephens and Princell Brockenbrough, who will join Gaines in the competition for starting wide receiver.

Besides Gaines’ performance in the scrimmage, only one of those possibly starters has distinguished himself.

Senior Chris Curd, who has played four different positions since coming to Pitt in 1999, has had a tremendous spring and put himself into position to play significant time next year.

“Chris Curd has done a great job and made some great strides, but I don’t know if he is the guy yet,” Brookhart said.

Curd, because of his improvements, won the Ed Conway Award on offense as most improved player of spring drills.

The winners of the Ed Conway Award on defense were sophomore defensive back Bernard Lay and senior defensive end Malcolm Pinder.

Linebacker Joe Dipre (knee), defensive back Marcus Furman (hip), defensive end Claude Harriott (knee), offensive lineman Matt Morgan (hip), running back Tim Murphy (shoulder) and offensive lineman Neal Tracey (knee), all did not play because of injury. Sophomore wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald did not attend the game, and was in Minnesota for personal reasons.