Posted on October 3rd, 2009 by David Whipkey

By David Whipkey

And now, Panther Nation can take a deep breath and step back from the ledge.

Pitt overcame several penalties and missed opportunities to subdue Louisville 35-10 Friday night at Papa Johns Stadium in the Big East opener for both squads.

Panthers quarterback Bill Stull continues to impress this season. The senior finished with 16 completions in 23 attempts for 242 yards and three scoring passes. Stull’s main target was super sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin. The Beaver County product scorched Louisville’s secondary for 105 yards receiving on four catches. His 71 yard touchdown catch of a Stull pass midway through the third quarter helped put the Cardinals away.

Tight end Dorin Dickerson finished with five catches for 50 yards. The senior gathered in Stull’s perfectly thrown rainbow for a 37-yard touchdown pass and a 14-10 lead early in the third quarter. Dickerson also started the scoring for Pitt in the first quarter when he pulled in a tipped pass in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown reception.

Pitt’s running game also kicked it into high gear. The freshman duo of Dion Lewis and Ray Graham combined for 162 yards on 33 carries. Graham’s five yard scoring run with 8:47 remaining in the contest gave Pitt a 28-10 advantage.

Fullback Henry Hynoski , who spent most of the evening plowing holes for Panther running backs or assisting in pass protection, finished the scoring for Pitt with a three-yard touchdown run late in the game.

After permitting 500 plus total yards and 38 points in last week’s loss at North Carolina State, the Pitt defense clamped down and applied a vice to the Cardinals offense.

The Panthers permitted only 101 yards rushing on 37 carries, a 2.2 yard per carry average. Pitt’s defense also got after quarterback Adam Froman, who was starting in place of an injured Justin Burke. Froman finished with 18 completions on 30 attempts for 166 yards.

Defensive end Greg Romeus enjoyed a monster night in the trenches. The junior announced his presence by sacking Froman three times. Pitt finished with six sacks on the night, giving them 22 sacks in four games.

Safety Dom DeCicco finished with eight total tackles and one pass break up. Defensive tackle Gus Mustakas recovered a Froman fumble on the Pitt 29 early in the third quarter, which set the stage for Stull’s 71-yard scoring strike to Baldwin on the next play.

Louisville (1-3, 0-1) got off to a good start before a sellout home crowd. Fullback Joe Tronzo capped an eight-play 73 yard drive with a one-yard scoring plunge. The Cardinals took a 10-7 halftime lead when kicker Ryan Payne made a 32-yard field goal, which climaxed a 69-yard march.

But the Panthers came out of the halftime locker room and took over the contest with 28 straight points.

The Panthers return home next week for a Saturday date with Connecticut at Heinz Field.