MIAMI – The Panthers left the Orange Bowl last night a bit closer to defeating the Hurricanes… MIAMI – The Panthers left the Orange Bowl last night a bit closer to defeating the Hurricanes than any of their other opponents over the past 32 games.

But in the end, close doesn’t count for anything.

No. 17 Pitt battled with the top-ranked team in the nation in front of a national television audience, but came just short of pulling the upset, falling to Miami 28-21.

“It was a tremendous battle and we were very close to getting it done,” Pitt head coach Walt Harris said. “It was a tough game to lose.”

Miami (10-0 overall, 5-0 Big East) hurt the Panthers with big plays and Pitt exposed its inability to capitalize on scoring chances.

Trailing by seven, Pitt took over possession with two minutes, 12 seconds remaining on the clock to put together one last drive and a chance to send the game into overtime. On the first play, quarterback Rod Rutherford was tackled for a loss of 6 and on second-and-16, and a 5-yard penalty was called on Miami to set up second-and-11. Pitt managed to get a first down at the Hurricane 35-yard line.

After two incomplete passes from Rutherford to Lamar Slade, a holding penalty on Miami gave the Panthers the first down at the 25-yard line. After two more incomplete passes to Slade, Rutherford connected with Yogi Roth for a gain of 5 to set up fourth-and-five.

With the game on the line, Rutherford threw a pass into the end zone just out of reach of a diving Roth, giving the Hurricanes their 32nd straight victory and 59th consecutive win at home.

“There was only one spot to put it and I was trying to give a chance to make a catch,” Rutherford said.

The loss dropped the Panthers to 8-3 overall and 5-1 in the conference, dropping them into second place with West Virginia University, who upset No. 12 Virginia Tech Wednesday night. This sets up the crucial Backyard Brawl next Saturday at Heinz Field, with the right to play in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day on the line.

“We’re hoping to get in a good bowl game and it’s going to be a fight,” Larry Fitzgerald said. “We’re going to have our hands full.”

Miami took an early lead on its first possession of the game when Sean Taylor returned the punt for 78 yards and the touchdown.

The Panthers couldn’t answer on their next possession as Rutherford was sacked on third-and-seven and Pitt was forced to punt.

The Hurricanes showcased their offensive ability with Heisman Trophy candidates Ken Dorsey at quarterback and running back Willis McGahee. Dorsey completed two passes, one to McGahee and one to Kellen Winslow, before McGahee ran twice for a combined 15 yards. After an incomplete pass, Pitt’s Brian Beinecke intercepted a Dorsey pass at the Pitt 43-yard line. The interception was the third of Beinecke’s career and the second pick off Dorsey.

On second-and-10, Rutherford narrowly escaped a sack by Jonathan Vilma and kept the ball for a 16-yard gain to put the Panthers on the 5-yard line. On the next play, Rutherford connected with wide receiver Fitzgerald in the corner of the end zone for the touchdown. The touchdown catch was Fitzgerald’s ninth of the season, putting him one shy of Dwight Collins’ freshman record set in 1980. Fitzgerald finished the game with seven catches for 74 yards.

David Abdul’s extra point tied the game at seven.

Pitt took over at its own 1-yard line after a 48-yard punt by Freddie Capshaw, but on the second play, Fitzgerald made an acrobatic catch over defenders Antrel Rolle and Taylor to bring Pitt to the 16-yard line and give the team a first down. The Panthers were unable to capitalize, however, and were once again forced to punt.

With 6:55 left in the second quarter, Miami’s Todd Sievers attempted a 54-yard field goal to give the Hurricanes the lead but missed wide left.

On the Hurricanes’ next possession, Capshaw’s punt at the 8-yard line was blocked by Shawntae Spencer, who registered his second block of the season. The Panthers took advantage by putting together a drive that brought them to the 4-yard line. Faced with third-and-goal, Rutherford found Roosevelt Bynes for the touchdown, giving the Panthers their first lead of the game, 14-7.

But the Panthers would see that lead disappear quickly when on the first play of Miami’s next drive, McGahee carried the ball 69 yards into the end zone and the extra point knotted the game once again. It was McGahee’s 18th rushing touchdown of the season, which breaks the Miami record set by Edgerrin James in 1998. McGahee is now one touchdown short of James’ record of 19 total touchdowns set in the same year.

As rain came down, the Hurricanes opened the second half by moving downfield and completing the drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Dorsey to Andre Johnson to put Miami ahead, 21-14.

Pitt answered when Torrie Cox returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards. After a 5-yard penalty, Pitt had a first-and-five on its own 45-yard line when Lousaka Polite carried the ball 4 yards and then another one for the first down. Later on third-and-five, Rutherford’s pass was deflected by Rolle, then hit by Vilma before landing in the hands of Slade.

A keeper by Rutherford for a gain of 12 yards put the Panthers on the Miami 20-yard line, but two plays later, another Rutherford carry was fumbled and recovered by the Hurricanes at the 8-yard line.

“No excuses,” Rutherford said. “It was just a fumble.”

The fourth quarter opened with the Miami offense facing a second-and-15, but Brian Guzek was penalized 15 yards on a penalty for roughing the passer on a play where Dorsey threw the ball out of bounds. Dorsey then connected with Johnson for a 39-yard pass followed by a 19-yard gain by Quadtrine Hill. McGahee then ran 7 yards into the end zone for his 19th touchdown of the season, tying James’ all-time record and giving the Hurricanes a 28-14 lead.

“We came into the game expecting big plays from [Dorsey] and McGahee,” Gerald Hayes said, “and that’s what [Dorsey] did today.”

The Panthers almost put together a big play of their own when, on second-and-10, Rutherford threw a pass way downfield to Bynes, who caught the ball but was drilled by Maurice Sikes. Bynes dropped the ball and laid on the field before being helped off by trainers, and the Panthers could not put a scoring drive together.

Later in the quarter, Slade caught an 18-yard pass from Rutherford right at the sideline to give the Panthers a first-and-10 on the Miami 10-yard line. This was followed by a 7-yard pass to Yogi Roth before Rutherford carried the ball into the end zone to cut Miami’s lead to 28-21. But in the end, it just wasn’t enough.

“We’re too serious about football to be excited about getting close,” Harris said. “We played hard but Miami is an outstanding football team.”

Prior to the game, the South Florida Pitt Club sponsored a cookout next to the Orange Bowl for Pitt alumni and friends. According to Jason Morrill, associate director of alumni, about 250 Panther fans were expected, including Chancellor Mark Nordenberg. Tables were set up under a tent with a buffet dinner and gold stickers saying “Go Panthers” were distributed.

Hurricanes fans were in abundance, tailgating in T-shirts and shorts as the temperature was around 80 degrees. One fan sported a shirt that read, “We’re that good” on the back. Inside the stadium, vendors sold snow cones and other Miami fans wore tortilla hats, in reference to the team’s hopes of making the national championship game, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

And with the win, Miami is one step closer to that goal.