Football: Live Blog, Pitt vs. New Mexico

3:42 p.m.: FINAL — PITT 49, UNM 27. The Panthers bruised and battered the Lobos defense with 265 rushing yards and five scores on the ground, jumping out to an insurmountable 35-6 lead at halftime.

3:38 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — PITT 49, UNM 27. Gongbay continues to dice Pitt’s defense; his 20-yard touchdown ends an 80-yard drive over 10 plays and 4:51.

3:32 p.m.: Today’s game is the first time two Pitt backs have eclipsed 100 yards since LeSean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howlings did so against Cincinnati on Oct. 20, 2007. Conner (119 yards) and Bennett (101) have achieved the feat today.

3:27 p.m.: Voytik’s first pass is complete for eight yards to tight end Manasseh Garner.

3:25 p.m.: Conner breaks the century mark on the ground.

3:22 p.m.: Redshirt freshman QB Chad Voytik gets his first game action for Pitt. Savage’s day ends with two touchdowns, two interceptions and 236 yards on 13-of-17 passing attempts.

3:14 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — PITT 49, UNM 20. Bennett’s career day trucks on. After this 13-yard score on the ground, Bennett caps a four-play, 33-yard drive that took the Panthers just 1:30 to complete. Bennett pushes his yardage to 101 on 14 carries.

3:13 p.m.: Bennett now has 88 yards rushing, a career high for the junior running back.

3:09 p.m.: Redshirt junior Todd Thomas snuffs out UNM’s fake punt attempt, and the Panthers set up shop the opponents’ 33 with 13:15 remaining in the contest.

3:03 p.m.: END OF THIRD QUARTER — PITT 42, UNM 20. “Sweet Caroline” blares over the loudspeakers with good times, truly, never seeming so good to the remaining fans in the Panther Pitt, which stands about 40 percent capacity. Pitt, however, trailed in the quarter after UNM put two unanswered touchdowns on the board.

3:01 p.m.: A 15-yard penalty sends UNM back to its own 17 after the punt.

3:00 p.m.: Pitt’s offense begins to sputter. Redshirt senior punter Matt Yoklic boots a 46-yard punt, putting the Lobos at their own 32, after the offense goes three-and-out.

2:56 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — PITT 42, UNM 20. Gautsche rushes through the defense again, finding a large seam to scamper into the end zone for a 12-yard score. The UNM drive lasted four plays, covering 29 yards and 1:52.

2:52 p.m.: Conner coughs up the ball, putting New Mexico’s offense on Pitt’s 29.

2:46 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — PITT 42, UNM 13. Quarterback Cole Gautsche sneaks through the Panther defensive line for a one-yard score run. The touchdown — the first allowed by Pitt today — capped a nine-play, 81-yard drive that ate nearly 5 1/2 minutes of clock.

2:42 p.m.: The Lobos are driving, cutting through the Pitt defense with a 42-yard run by junior running back Crusoe Gongbay.

2:34 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN — PITT 42, UNM 6. Bennett drives a defender backwards, pushing his way to the end zone for an eight-yard score. Pitt’s drive lasted 4 plays, covering 31 yards and 2:09.

2:30 p.m.: Terrish Webb scoops up a fumble at New Mexico’s 31, setting the offense up to further its lead over the Lobos.

2:23 p.m.: The second half is underway, as New Mexico starts its drive at the 23-yard line. Pitt leads the game, 35-6 after an explosive first half. — TP (to provide all updates this half)

2:03 Pitt scoring drive:  2 plays, 56 yards, 23 seconds. — RB

2:00 Boyd 34-yard reception from Savage for TOUCHDOWN. Blewitt PAT is GOOD. Pitt 35, New Mexico 6. — RB

1:56 Mitchem SACKED on fourth down by Aaron Donald at Pitt 44. Turnover on downs. — RB

1:51 Andrew Aho 29-yard reception from Clayton Mitchem. First down at Pitt 44. — RB

1:50 Savage’s pass intercepted by New Mexico at Pitt 13. 0-yard return. Pass intended for Street. — RB

1:48 Street 17-yard reception from Savage. First down at Pitt 13. — RB

1:46 Boyd 17-yard reception from Savage. First down. Ball at Pitt 30. — RB

1:45 Bennett 31-yard carry to New Mexico 47. — RB

1:41 New Mexico faces 4th and 6 at its own 43. Skaer’s 35 yard punt is fair caught by Kevin Weatherspoon at Pitt 22. — RB

1:36 Pitt scoring drive:  4 plays, 76 yards, 1:54. — RB

1:34 Conner 38-yard carry for TOUCHDOWN. Blewitt PAT is GOOD. Pitt 28, New Mexico 6. — RB

1:33 Street 18 yard reception from Savage. First down at New Mexico 35. — RB

1:32 Isaac Bennett 18 yard carry to Pitt 42. First and ten. — RB

1:30 New Mexico scoring drive:  8 plays, 32 yards, 4:43. — RB

1:28 Adams 23-yard field goal is GOOD. Pitt 21, New Mexico 6. — RB

1:15 On third down deep in New Mexico’s territory, Ejuan Price tips Cole Gautsche’s pass to force fourth down. Skaer’s 45 yard punt is fumbled by Pitts at the Pitt 36. Ball recovered by New Mexico’s Dante Caro. First and ten at Pitt 38. — RB

1:18 Pitt scoring drive:  4 plays, 60 yards, 1:27. — RB

1:07 James Conner 1-yard rush for Pitt TOUCHDOWN.  Blewitt PAT GOOD. Pitt 21, New Mexico 3. Conner’s first-career touchdown. — RB

1:06 James Conner 20-yard rush to Pitt 1 yard line. First and goal. — RB

1:03 Pitt forces three-and-out at New Mexico 21 yard line. New Mexico’s Ben Skaer’s 38-yard punt goes out of bounds at Pitt 40 yard line. First and ten. — RB

1:00 Pitt scoring drive:  6 plays, 75 yards, 2:38. — RB

12:59 Tyler Boyd carries 33 yards for Pitt TOUCHDOWN. Chris Blewitt PAT GOOD. Pitt 14, New Mexico 3. — RB

12:58 James Conner 14 yard carry to New Mexico’s 46 yard line for a Pitt first down. — RB

12:55 Lafayette Pitts takes New Mexico’s kickoff out Pitt’s 25 yard line. First and ten for Pitt. — RB

12:51 New Mexico scoring drive:  4 plays, 7 yards, 2:22 minutes. — RB

12:50 New Mexico’s Justus Adams 28-yard field goal is GOOD. Pitt 7, New Mexico 3. 7:38 left in the first quarter. — RB

12:48 Chris Blewitt’s62 yard kick is returned 72 yards by New Mexico’s Carlos Wiggins. First and ten for New Mexico at Pitt 18 yard-line. — RB

12:43 p.m. Tom Savage play-action pass to Scott Orndoff for Pitt TOUCHDOWN. Chris Blewitt PAT GOOD. At the ten-minute mark, it’s Pitt 7, New Mexico 0. — RB

12:40 p.m. Tom Savage pass to Tyler Boyd for 51 yards to New Mexico’s 10 yard-line. First and goal. — RB

12:36 p.m. New Mexico’s Justus Adams’ 46-yard field goal attempt no good. Wide left. Pitt first and ten on its own 29. — RB

12:33 p.m. Pitt comes out on offense throwing. Tom Savage throws interception at Pitt’s 42 yard-line.  New Mexico first and ten at the Pitt 27. — RB

12:30 p.m.: Panthers will start at the 20 after a touchback. Tom Savage under center. – TP

12:28 p.m.: New Mexico wins the coin toss and defers until the second half. Panthers will receive to start the game. Lafayette Pitts and Anthony Gonzalez are deep to return the kick. — TP

11:57 a.m.: Fans slowly start to file in the seats, with the Panther Pitt at about 40 percent capacity. — TP

11:55 a.m.: Pitt (0-1, 0-1 ACC), home at Heinz Field, is set to square off against New Mexico (1-1, 0-0 MWC) in about 35 minutes. Assistant Sports Editor Tyler Pecyna and Staff Writer Ryan Bertonaschi will update this site with game events live from Heinz Field. — TP

Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Meanwhile, follow the updates here and on Twitter: @PittNewsSports, @Tyler_Pecyna and @TraffordsGift.