FanNation - The Republic of Sport

In a win that could prove to be the signature win of Pitt's season, and maybe Dave Wannstedt's tenure as head coach, Pitt showed the potential that made them many people's pre-season pick to win the Big East.  Showing grit, determination, a shut-down defense, and a potentially explosive offense during a 26-21 win over the South Florida Bulls; the Panthers threw their hat into the ring, showing that they are a true contendor for the Big East championship.

Pitt entered as 13.5 point underdogs to the homestanding, tenth ranked Bulls.  Pitt started slowly, as has become ritual for the 2008 Panthers, whose first drive never got started, leading Pitt to punt from deep in their own end.

South Florida gained the early momentum, as Charlton Sinclair returned the blocked punt 26 yards for the USF Touchdown. 

Pitt responded by orchestrating one of their best drives of the season up to that point, traveling 67 yards on five plays, with the key play coming on a 52 yard Bill Stull touchdown pass to Jonathan Baldwin.  The touchdown grab was his first as a Panther and tied the score.  Baldwin, who saw his first significant playing time during his freshman campaign, was a true contributor for the Panthers, catching two passes for 59 yards and the score.

The second quarter belonged to Pitt, who posted another sustained drive spanning 15 plays and 72 yards.  LeSean "Shady" McCoy capped off that drive with a six yard touchdown run to put the Panthers ahead 14-7.

McCoy posted his second consecutive 100 yard rushing day, pacing the Panthers with 142 yards on 28 carries.  

Pitt extended their lead to 17-7, as Connor Lee connected on a 35 yard field goal with time ticking down before halftime.

USF quarterback Matt Grothe topped off his teams first drive of the second half, an 11 play 76 yard campaign, with a one yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit to 17-14.  The drive was USF's first significant drive since the first quarter, and the only scoring drive for either team in the third quarter.

That's when the Pitt defense took over, stifiling Grothe and the USF running attack led by Mike Ford, who led USF with 73 yards on the ground.  Pitt forced consecutive three-and-outs on the Bulls next two drives, giving the Pitt offense plenty of opportunities to extend the lead.

Pitt did exactly that, as Connor Lee knocked home a 31 yard field goal, after a long 17 play 82 yard drive that ate nearly nine minutes stalled deep in USF territory.  the kick gave the Panthers a 20-14 lead.

But South Florida responded.  Taking advantage of a poor defensive series from the Panthers, Grothe led the Bulls on a nine play 86 yard drive that gave USF a slim 21-20 lead.  During the drive, Ford, Grothe, and the rest of the Bulls offense ripped off chunks of yardage at a time. 

The Pitt offense once again faced a challenge, and once again they were up to the task, taking only 3 plays to cover 60 yards.  McCoy scored the eventual game winner with a three yard run to paydirt for his second score of the day.  Pitt attempted the two point conversion, which failed.  Thus leaving the door open for USF to pull out a victory.

The Pitt defense would have none of that, knocking the Bulls back en route to another three and out.

The Bulls would get one more chance with 31 seconds remaining in the game, but Matt Grothe's final heave with six seconds left would fall harmlessly to the ground, cementing a Panther victory.

Here's a look at the key questions that decided thursday's game:

Will Pitt be able to run for 150 or more yards?

They finished just below this mark, at 146 yards, but this is due to lost sack yardage.  McCoy was outstanding, rushing for 142 yards on 28 carries.

Will Shane Murray play effective minutes and make an impact?

Murray played more and was a factor in slowing down Grothe and the Bulls.

Will George Selvie play and will he be a presence in that time?

Selvie, who was not expected to play, entered the game late in the first half.  He was obviously in pain and was not much of a factor.

Can Pitt's offensive line protect Stull from Selvie?

Selvie didn't play much (See above) and the Offensive line did a decent job, allowing only two sacks.

Can Pitt's defensive line pressure Grothe and contain his scrambling ability?

Yes.  Pitt got to Grothe in the backfield four times.  Grothe had a couple nice runs, gaining 25 yards on 11 carries, but did not break a 70 yard run like he did against the Panthers last year.

Will Pitt play with emotion like in last year's back yard brawl?

They clearly palyed with emotion that propelled them through the game.

Can Pitt score first?

No, but it didn't matter in the end.

Pitt's victory vaults them to 4-1, and 2-0 inside the Big East, putting them in the rare position of controlling their own destiny.  For the Bulls, who were heavily favored, the loss has the media asking, for the second year in a row, if the Bulls were overrated.  The game had serious implications for the Big East, which lacks a true national contender.

For Pitt, this game was a glimpse into what can be, and what many thought should be.  They played a pretty good game while overcoming some blunders, proving that Pitt could win without playing a perfect game.  The defense was dominant for most of the game, and the offense was good, and at times explosive.

The Panther's season is in their hands.  It is up to them what they choose to do with it.

For more insight into Pitt Football and national sporting news, tune into my radio show on 92.1 WPTS-Pittsurgh.  It runs from 4:30-5:00 on Wednesday afternoons.  It can be found online at http://www.wpts.org/