Pitt enjoyed their finest football season in nearly 30 years with a 10-win campaign that was capped by a 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl last month.

Their achievements were rewarded with a No. 15 ranking in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls that were released Friday morning after Alabama’s 37-21 win over Texas in the BCS National Championship Game.

The Panthers final ranking is their highest since the end of the 1982 season, when Pitt finished in the Top 10 in both major polls. Their 10-win season was the most in a campaign since an 11-1 mark was achieved in 1981.

Pitt’s 19 combined wins in 2008 and 2009 are the program’s most since the 1981-82 seasons. The Panthers three losses were by a combined 11 points, an average of just 3.6 points per game.

Although coach Dave Wannstedt must replace multiple seniors, the Panthers will bring back several top-notch performers that should not only keep Pitt in contention in the improving Big East conference but for possible national honors as well.

Freshman running back Dion Lewis will return to Pitt’s backfield. Lewis compiled 1,799 yards rushing and scored 18 touchdowns. The nation took notice by virtue of his conference offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards along with his National Freshman of the Year Award from The Sporting News and CBSSports.com.

Junior receiver Jonathan Baldwin will draw the attention of defensive backs in 2010. Baldwin had 57 catches for 1,111 yards and eight scores. The Aliquippa, Pa. native also garnered all conference awards this season.

Defensive end Greg Romeus is expected to return and terrorize quarterbacks next season. Romeus was named Co-Big East Defensive Player of the Year with teammate Mick Williams. Romeus logged 11.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, an interception and a blocked kick. His running mate at defensive end, Jabaal Sheard; will also return.

Safety Dom DeCicco, offensive tackle Jason Pinkston and place kicker Dan Hutchins were also all-Big East performers. All will be returning seniors in the fall.

Burgeoning players such as receiver Mike Shanahan, linebackers Dan Mason and Elijah Fields, offensive guard Chris Jacobson, safety Andrew Taglianetti, safety/cornerback Jarred Holley and fullback Henry Hynoski are all expected to take on larger roles and help take the program to the next step.

The Panthers will take on a daunting schedule in 2010. Non-conference games include trips to Utah and Notre Dame along with a home game against former Big East rival Miami (Fla.). Pitt will host conference foes Louisville, Rutgers and West Virginia and visit Cincinnati, Connecticut, South Florida and Syracuse.

It may not have completely washed away the bad taste of the loss to Big East champion Cincinnati earlier this month, but it did help put a nice bow on the most successful Pitt football season in nearly 30 years.

Dan Hutchins’ 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining provided the No. 17 Panthers the winning margin in a thrilling 19-17 win over North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl Saturday evening in Charlotte. The victory gave Pitt a 10-3 record, their best season since an 11-1 campaign in 1981 that ended when Dan Marino’s touchdown pass to John Brown beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl at the end of that year.

“I think that people know that we are back as a program and you have to go out and prove it,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt after the game. “You have to show up and you have to win games like this.”

Plenty of Pitt players showed up and put on a stout performance in the Tar Heels’ backyard. Freshman sensation running back Dion Lewis gained 159 yards on 28 carries against the nation’s No. 6 defense. Quarterback Bill Stull had yet another efficient performance, completing 17 of 24 passes for 163 yards and no interceptions. Stull’s favorite target was freshman receiver Mike Shanahan, who hauled in five receptions for 83 yards.

Pitt’s defense acquitted itself nicely after the fourth-quarter collapse against Cincinnati earlier this month. The Panthers sacked Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates three times, intercepted him once and recovered one fumble. The unit held on fourth-and-10 near midfield late in the contest to seal the win.

“We knew we were going to be in a 15-round fight,” said Pitt linebacker and Charlotte native Max Gruder. “We didn’t expect anything other than that.”

Gruder led Pitt’s defense with 11 tackles and recovered an Erik Highsmith fumble that helped set up Hutchins’ 31-yard field goal in the second quarter.

The Tar Heels (8-5) got on the board first on their opening drive when Yates hooked up with Greg Little on a 15-yard touchdown pass. Little then inexplicably punted the ball in the Bank of America Stadium bleachers and forced the Tar Heels to kick off from their own 15 due to his unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

Pitt appeared poised to even the score on their next possession, but Lewis fumbled the ball through the end zone after North Carolina defensive end E.J. Wilson punched the ball free, giving the Heels the ball on their own 20.

The Panthers got back into the contest when Hutchins booted a 31-yard field goal early in the second quarter. The kick was set up when safety Jarred Holley stripped Highsmith of the football and Gruder recovered near the North Carolina 40.

Lewis made up for his earlier fumble (the first and only one he lost this year) by capping a 45-yard drive in the second quarter with an 11-yard scoring run. Hutchins’ kick was true and Pitt led 10-7 early in the second quarter.

North Carolina then went on a 14-play, 58-yard drive that looked to either give the Tar Heels the lead or at least tie the score. But Pitt’s Dan Mason made a huge play when he intercepted Yates on the Pitt two-yard line.

The Heels eventually tied the score with 1:05 left in the first half when Casey Barth drilled a 37-yard field goal. But Pitt responded when Stull engineered a 46-yard scoring drive that culminated with Hutchins’ 31-yard field goal which gave the Panthers a 13-10 halftime lead.

Hutchins’ third field goal, a 42-yard boot ending Pitt’s opening drive of the second-half, extended Pitt’s lead to 16-10 early in the third quarter.

But Yates and the Tar Heels snatched momentum for their own on their next possession. North Carolina marched 70 yards in 11 plays. Yates capped the drive with a 14-yard strike to Little midway through the third quarter. Barth’s kick was good and the Heels were up 17-16.

Yates finished with 183 yards passing on 19 completions. Little grabbed seven passes for 87 yards. Ryan Houston paced North Carolina’s ground game with 83 yards on 24 carries.

But Pitt was able to summon additional strength and finished the game in winning style.

North Carolina was in position to put the Pitt away midway through the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels had the ball at the Pitt 29. But sacks by Jabaal Sheard and Mick Williams pushed North Carolina out of field goal range.

With a little more than nine minutes remaining, Pitt took possession of the ball at their own five-yard line following a North Carolina punt. The Panthers were able to march deep into Tar Heels real estate thanks to Lewis’ 58 yards rushing on the drive and the conversion of a fourth and inches play on their own 30. Pitt reached the North Carolina 30 with 1:56 remaining. The Panthers were lined up for a 47-yard field goal on fourth and two, but the Tar Heels jumped offside and gave Pitt an important first down.

“They were jumping the gun a little bit, so we told our center to take his time adjusting the ball,” said Wannstedt. “If they didn’t jump offside, we were going to kick the field goal. The extra 20 yards sure did help.”

Pitt advanced to the North Carolina 16 and set the stage for Hutchins’ clutch kick.

“I had a weird feeling with a strong defensive team that I would be kicking a lot today,” said Hutchins. “I am excited.”

Pitt held on for the win when Yates fourth and 10 pass from midfield fell incomplete, giving the Panthers a much-needed bowl win and boost into next season.

“They are a good football team,” said North Carolina coach Butch Davis. “There is a reason that they were 35 seconds away from going to a BCS bowl as Big East champions. We have a lot of respect for Pitt and their football team.”

Notes: Lewis’ 159-yard day gave him 1,799 yards rushing this season, good for second all-time at Pitt behind Tony Dorsett’s 2,150-yard Heisman Trophy campaign in 1976. His second-quarter touchdown gave him 17 rushing scores on the year and 19 total, both freshman records. Lewis also has ten 100-yard rushing days this season, tying him with Dorsett’s 1973 campaign for first in school history. Hutchins’ four field goals in a bowl game is a school record.

Three Panthers recently received top Big East player awards for their performance on the field this season.

Freshman running back Dion Lewis was named Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year while junior defensive end Greg Romeus and senior defensive tackle Mick Williams shared the Big East Defensive Player of the Year award.

Lewis set the conference ablaze with 1,640 yards rushing to go with 17 touchdowns. He leads the Big East and is third nationally in rushing yards per game (136.67 avg.). The Albany, N.Y. native is the most prolific freshman ground gainer in conference history. He stands 46 yards shy of Tony Dorsett’s 1973 mark of 1,686 yards rushing. Lewis’ 102 points is the new record for points scored by a freshman, overtaking LeSean McCoy’s 90 points set just two years ago.

Former Pitt receiver and current Arizona Cardinals star Larry Fitzgerald earned the conference’s offensive player of the year award in 2003.

Romeus led Pitt’s fierce defensive line with 40 stops, including 10.5 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks. The Coral Springs, Fla. native also has two forced fumbles, an interception, a fumble recovery and one blocked kick.

Williams was a dominant force in the middle. The senior from Monessen is second in the conference in tackles for loss with 15. He also has three sacks and three forced fumbles to with his 39 total tackles.

Former Pitt linebackers H.B. Blades (2006) and Scott McKillop (2008) also garnered conference defensive player of the year awards.

The Panthers also had 10 first-team all Big East selections overall. In addition to the unanimous selections of Lewis, Romeus and Williams, other Panthers included on the first team were sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin, senior cornerback Aaron Berry, senior tight end Dorin Dickerson, senior linebacker Adam Gunn, senior offensive guard John Malecki, junior offensive tackle Jason Pinkston and senior quarterback Bill Stull.

Second team all-Big East included senior tight end Nate Byham, junior safety Dom DeCicco, junior placekicker Dan Hutchins and senior defensive tackle Gus Mustakas.

Notes: Three members of Pitt’s coaching staff were selected as finalists for the FootballScoop.com Coaches of the Year award. They are offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, offensive line coach Tony Wise and Director of Football Operations Chris LaSala.

It was all right there on the table for the Pitt Panthers.

But Cincinnati’s Mardy Gilyard and Tony Pike simply reached and took everything away from the Panthers.

Pitt was poised to win their second Big East title Saturday before a sell-out crowd at Heinz Field, but the explosive Bearcats blew up in the game’s final quarter and nipped the Panthers 45-44 and in the process, took the conference title and a berth in a BCS game.

“With this being my last year and to go out like that, it’s tough,” said defensive tackle Gus Mustakas. “We just have to keep out heads up and prepare for whatever bowl game we get invited to.”

The Panthers held leads of 31-10 in the second quarter and 38-24 in the fourth quarter but could not seal the deal. Super freshman running back Dion Lewis carried the day for Pitt, rushing a school record 47 times for 194 yards and three scores. Quarterback Bill Stull threw two touchdown passes but also added two interceptions. Jonathan Baldwin continued his development by catching six passes for 113 yards and two scores.

Pitt’s defense played well for three quarters. They sacked Pike three times and intercepted him three more. At one point, Pike was 8-for-23 passing in the second half, but he rose up and finished with 304 yards passing on 22 completions. Suffice it to say, he recovered nicely.

But it was the last point that Pitt did not get late in the fourth quarter that was most damaging.
Lewis put the Panthers on top 44-38 with a five-yard touchdown run. Kicker Dan Hutchins never had a chance to kick the extra point. Holder Andrew Janocko botched the center snap and was unable to place the ball for the kick, leaving Pitt’s lead at six points.

Cue Pike and the rest of the Bearcats offense as the fifth-year senior marched his offense 63 yards in less than a minute for the go-ahead score. Pike capped the march with a beautiful 29 yard scoring pass to Armon Binns. Jacob Rodgers kick was true, giving the Bearcats their first and only lead of the game.

It was a crushing end to a marvelous game for those in blue and gold.

After forcing Cincinnati to punt, Pitt began the scoring parade with a 12-play scoring drive that was capped by Lewis’ four-yard scoring run. The Bearcats responded with a 66 yard touchdown drive that was climaxed by Jacob Ramsey’s two-yard scoring run.

The rest of the first half was all Panthers.

Stull struck twice in the half with scoring passes to Baldwin of 22 and 40 yards. Pitt expanded its lead to 31-10 when Stull scampered in from three yards out late in the first half. Stull’s touchdown run was set up by Nate Nix’s blocked punt. It appeared the Pitt was poised to put Cincinnati away for good.

But Gilyard turned into Superman and simply would not need the Bearcats lose. Gilyard returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to the end zone and sliced the Panthers lead to 31-17 late in the first half.

“I thought the kickoff return for a touchdown completely changed the momentum of the game,” said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt. “I thought we had it in the first half. We knew Gilyard was good. But the first three kickoffs, he did not get past the 25.”

He would not be finished by a long shot.

Gilyard struck again midway through the third quarter when he gathered in Pike’s floater near the Pitt 35 and raced in for a 68 yard touchdown pass that cut the Panthers lead to 31-24.

Lewis answered with a 12 yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave Pitt a seemingly comfortable 38-24 lead. But no lead is safe against the Bearcats, a truth that the Panthers found out in a most painful fashion.

Cincinnati scored the game’s next 14 points in swift fashion. Gilyard’s long kickoff return to the Pitt 24 set up one short scoring drive that was capped by D.J. Woods eight-yard touchdown catch. Rogers’ kick banked off the right upright, leaving Cincinnati’s deficit at eight points with 11:09 left in regulation.

The Bearcats struck again when Isaiah Pead scampered in the end zone from one-yard out. Pike found Gilyard in the end zone for the two-point conversion, knotting the score at 38 midway through the fourth quarter.

Stull, Lewis and Baldwin again brought the Panthers back, marching 67 yards in nine-plays, the capper coming on Lewis’ five-yard scoring run. But the extra-point was botched, Pike became unstoppable and Cincinnati was on their way to the BCS.

“Tony Pike just stuck with it today,” said Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly.

There will be no three-game winning streak for the Pitt Panthers in the Backyard Brawl.

West Virginia used a big-play by running back Noel Devine, stout defense and the clutch leg of kick Tyler Bitancurt to overtake Pitt 19-16 Friday night before a less-than-sellout crowd at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown.

Bitancurt’s 43-yard field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Mountaineers (8-3, 4-2) the hard-fought win. His kick capped a 10-play; 52-yard drive in the game’s waning moments.

Devine led the Mountaineers with 134 yards rushing on 17 carries. His 88-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter sent the Panthers normally staunch defense reeling. Quarterback Jarrett Brown completed 19 of 31 throws for 164 yards. Although he was sacked twice and pressured most of the evening, he did not throw an interception.

The same could not be said for the Big East’s leading passer Bill Stull.

Stull was under siege from the Mountaineers pass rush most of the night. West Virginia sacked him twice and hounded him into numerous misfires. The fifth-year senior completed 16 of 30 passes for 179 yards. Stull also threw two costly interceptions. Mountaineer safety Keith Tandy intercepted Stull right before the end of the first half, helping to set up Bitancurt’s game-tying 20-yard field goal. Cornerback Robert Sands pilfered a Stull pass in the fourth-quarter to snuff out another Pitt drive and create a scoring opportunity for the Mountaineers.

The Panthers (9-2, 5-1)started out the contest in fine fashion. The defense forced a three-and-out series on West Virginia’s first possession. After a Mountaineer punt, Pitt marched down to the WVU 29-yard line. However, Dan Hutchins missed his 46-yard field goal attempt.

Both squads were locked in a defensive battle for much of the first half. Pitt managed to cobble together a 54-yard scoring drive late in the half that was capped by Hutchins’ 37-yard field goal.

West Virginia took a 6-3 lead early in the third period when Bitancurt climaxed a 48-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal. Pitt responded with an eight-play, 46-yard drive that was highlighted by Dion Lewis’ 30-yard run on fourth and 1 at midfield. Hutchins’ 30-yard field goal knotted the score at six apiece late in the third.

But Devine struck back for the Mountaineers. The junior running back juked Pitt safety Dom DeCicco and out ran the rest of the Panthers for a tide-turning 88-yard touchdown run. The play effectively swung the momentum in favor of the Mountaineers and forced the Panthers to play catch-up the rest of the night.

West Virginia took advantage of Sands’ interception near midfield in the fourth quarter and turned it into points. Bitancurt’s 39-yard boot gave West Virginia a seemingly insurmountable 10-point lead.

But Pitt rose from the deck and decided not to go quietly. The Panthers moved 33 yards in seven plays, setting up Hutchins’ 36-yard field goal midway through the final quarter, slicing West Virginia’s lead to 16-9.

After Pitt’s defense held, Stull and his mates went to work. The Panthers moved 75 yards in three-plays, all of which were pass completions. Stull ended the march with a gorgeous 50-yard touchdown strike to Jonathan Baldwin. The connection tied the game at 16 apiece late in the fourth-quarter.

Both Baldwin and Lewis enjoyed productive evenings. Baldwin finished with eight catches for 127 yards while Lewis added 155 yards rushing on 26 attempts.

But the Mountaineers had nearly three minutes to work with. Brown used this time to lead his offense on a methodical 52-yard drive that led to Bitancurt’s heroics.

Notes: Pitt still has a chance to win the Big East title with a win over undefeated Cincinnati next Saturday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is at noon and will be televised nationally on ABC.

All the elements were there for a special Saturday night at Heinz Field for the Pitt Panthers.

A sell-out crowd of 65,374 walked through the turnstiles, more than 100 recruits were on hand, temperatures hovered around 50 plus degrees, ABC’s Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit were on hand to call the action and Notre Dame was the opponent; presenting a stiff challenge for the Panthers.

Consider this test aced.

Pitt controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage and held on for a scintillating 27-22 win over Notre Dame Saturday night, pushing the Panthers record to 9-1 overall. The Panthers have a week off before their annual grudge match against West Virginia in Morgantown on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The Panthers defense was strong all night, holding the Irish to 66 yards rushing and sacking Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen three times. Pitt defensive end Greg Romeus stripped Clausen on a third and 16 play late in the fourth quarter, sealing Pitt’s third win against the Fighting Irish in their last four meetings.

Pitt’s offense was efficient, outgaining Notre Dame in total yardage 429-349. Freshman running back Dion Lewis showcased his talents to a national television audience. The Albany, N.Y. native gashed Notre Dame for 152 yards on 21 carries. His 50-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter gave Pitt a seemingly comfortable 27-9 lead.

Notre Dame roared back courtesy of Clausen’s right arm and receiver Golden Tate’s legs and hands. Clausen capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring pass to Tate, slicing Pitt’s lead to 27-16 midway through the final quarter.

Pitt was forced to punt on their next possession and Tate made them pay, returning Dan Hutchins’ punt 87 yards for a touchdown. The two-point pass failed, but the Irish were very much alive trailing by five late in the contest.
Notre Dame got the ball back on their own 20 with 3:39 remaining. But Romeus came through on third and long to strip Clausen and essentially ending the game.

Pitt quarterback Bill Stull enjoyed another solid performance. The fifth-year senior completed 15 of 27 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown. Stull’s scoring strike came courtesy of a 36-yard hook up late in the first half with sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin, who dived to snare the pass in the end zone behind Irish cornerback Darrin Walls. The play capped six-play, 80 yard drive and gave the host Panthers a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Baldwin struck again the third quarter when he made a circus-like 51-yard catch that set up Hutchins’ 38-yard field goal, giving the Panthers a 13-3 lead. Baldwin finished with five catches for 142 yards and his one score.

Lewis’ understudy, freshman Ray Graham, got his chance to shine on Pitt’s next possession. Graham ran and spun through the Notre Dame defense for a 53-yard run to the Irish 2. On the next play, Graham bulled into the end zone and gave the Panthers a commanding 20-3 lead.

Notre Dame finally got into the end zone early in the fourth when Clausen climaxed an 11-play, 80 yard drive with a one-yard sneak.

Clausen and his receivers kept the Irish in the game. He completed 27 of 42 passes for 283 yards. Tate finished with 113 yards on nine receptions while his partner Michael Floyd contributed seven catches for 107 yards.

Panther safety Jarred Holley intercepted Clausen in the second quarter.

If Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt wanted to see how his players would respond to being punched in the mouth by a fired-up opponent, he got his wish.

He also must have liked what he saw on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.

The Panthers fell behind 3-0 early to Syracuse, but responded with 37 unanswered points and cruised home to a comfortable 37-10 win over the Orange. Pitt improved their record to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big East while the improving Orange fell to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

“I knew that this was going to be a challenge for us,” Wannstedt said following the game. “You get a week off and you win the way we won against South Florida and the players go home for the weekend and everybody is patting them on the back and talking about rankings. It’s very difficult for 18-year old kids to handle.”

Syracuse, which entered Saturday’s game without the services of leading receiver Mike Williams (quit the team earlier this week) and three other players who were suspended, brought plenty of fight to Pitt early in the contest. Orange running back Delone Carter ripped off a 58-yard run on the game’s second play, setting up Ryan Lichtenstein’s 29-yard field goal that gave the Orange an early lead.

Carter finished with 144 yards on 17 carries, the most permitted by Pitt’s defense this year. But the unit held strong when it needed to and kept the Orange out of the end zone until the game’s waning moments.

The Panthers offense then revved up the 46,885 in attendance with a nine-play, 93-yard drive that culminated in Dan Hutchins’ 30-yard tying field goal. Pitt would not trail again, but would struggle to finish drives throughout the first half.

Pitt’s offense rolled up 481 yards, 247 of which came on the ground against a defense that came into the game allowing less than 90 yards per game rushing, good for the top spot in the conference.

Freshman Dion Lewis continued his stellar campaign with an 18-carry, 110-yard and one touchdown performance. He also caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 31-yard catch and run that set up his one-yard scoring plunge early in the third quarter that gave Pitt a 20-3 lead and essentially iced the game.

“Dion Lewis did a good job and he had his runs,” Wannstedt said. “Billy Stull played extremely well again.”

Stull’s performance was nothing less than business-like. The fifth-year senior operated offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s system with precision, completing 16 passes in 23 attempts for 225 yards and one score.

Tight end Dorin Dickerson notched his 10th touchdown of the season when he gathered in a 14-yard scoring toss from Stull in the third quarter. Dickerson finished with seven receptions for 118 yards and appeared to be unstoppable yet again.

Although the Panthers defense struggled to contain Carter at times, they did shut down the Orange most of the day. The front-wall continually pressured quarterbacks Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib. The defense finished with six sacks and three interceptions, one of which was returned by linebacker Greg Williams for a 51-yard touchdown late in the second quarter when it appeared the Orange were threatening to score.

Defensive end Brandon Lindsey and defensive tackle Chas Alecxih had two sacks while Greg Romeus added a sack and a diving interception of a tipped Paulus pass late in the third quarter.

Safety Jarred Holley had an interception of a Jovani Chappel deflection early in the third and added a team-high nine total tackles.

Pitt will face Notre Dame next Saturday night at Heinz Field. Kickoff against the Fighting Irish, who lost 23-21 at home to Navy on Saturday, will be at 8 p.m. and be televised nationally on ABC.

“Everybody is excited about Notre Dame,” Lewis said. “Everybody is going to be fired-up and ready for this game.”

In what was their most complete performance of the season, the Pitt Panthers demolished South Florida 41-14 Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.

Pitt’s offense rolled up 486 yards against a Bulls defense that appeared deflated after last week’s loss to No. 5 Cincinnati. The Panthers scored on all five of their first half possessions and were never seriously threatened all afternoon long.

Panthers quarterback Bill Stull had another fine performance. The senior completed 18 of 25 throws for 245 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. He completed his first 11 throws and was not sacked.

Freshman Dion Lewis spearheaded a ground game that consumed 214 yards of real estate. Lewis rushed for 111 yards on 23 carries. Fellow freshman Ray Graham added 88 yards on 11 totes.

Sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin continues to improve on a weekly basis. His six catch, 144-yard, one touchdown performance thrilled the Homecoming crowd. Tight end Dorin Dickerson notched his ninth touchdown of the season, a five-yard toss from backup quarterback Tino Sunseri, in the fourth quarter.

Pitt’s defense picked up five sacks of South Florida quarterbacks. B.J. Daniels was dumped to the turf twice while backup signal caller Evan Landi was sacked three times in the fourth quarter.

Aaron Berry, Elijah Fields and Antwuan Reed each had interceptions.

The Panthers struck first when Stull ended an 80-yard march with a two-yard scoring toss to tight end Mike Cruz. Pitt made it 14-0 in the first quarter when Stull found Baldwin for a 40-yard scoring strike.

South Florida responded in the second when Daniels engineered an 80-yard drive that was capped by Mike Ford’s four-yard touchdown run which cut Pitt’s lead to 14-7.

But it was all Panthers from the midway point of the second quarter.

Lewis ended a five-play, 68-yard drive with his first one-yard touchdown on the day, pushing Pitt’s lead to 21-7 midway through the second.

Dan Hutchins’ 36-yard field goal added three points and the rout was on.

Pitt’s next possession ended in another score. Lewis capped the 54-yard march with his second one-yard touchdown plunge, increasing the Panthers lead to 31-7.

Hutchins added a 32-yard field goal late in the third before Sunseri hooked up with Dickerson for a nine-yard score in the fourth quarter.

South Florida added a window-dressing touchdown late in the game when Landi found Dontavia Bogan in the end zone from 20-yards out.

Pitt is off until a Nov. 7 home contest against Syracuse.

Pitt’s win gave the Panthers their first 7-1 start since the 1982 season and also clinched a bowl berth for the second year in a row.

Yet another Pitt football player has earned a Big East Conference Player of the Week honor.

True freshman running back Dion Lewis is making many Pitt fans believe another great ball carrier is toting the rock for the Panthers. His 180-yard, two touchdown performance in Pitt’s 24-17 win at Rutgers Friday night made the college football-watching nation take notice.

Lewis’ 58-yard scoring burst gave the Panthers a two-touchdown cushion late in the third quarter. All of his damage was done to a defense that led the conference in rushing defense and was sixth nationally (65.2 yards per game entering Friday night’s game).

Lewis’ 918 yards rushing is good for second in the country behind Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews.

His Friday night performance also garnered him the Rivals.com National Freshman Player of the Week.

Lewis joins fellow Panthers Adam Gunn, Dan Mason, Bill Stull and Dan Hutchins as conference players of the week this season.

It may have been their biggest road win since that early December 2007 night in Morgantown, W.Va.

Demons were exorcised and ghosts were busted Friday night after Pitt’s 24-17 win over Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J.

The Panthers had to overcome a four-game losing streak to the Scarlet Knights, several missed opportunities to put the game away in the second-half, two costly turnovers that led to two Rutgers touchdowns and a rowdy crowd of 50,000 plus at Rutgers Stadium before securing the win.

Pitt used their time-tested recipe to extract a win. The Panthers controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball which was evidenced by their 223 yards rushing on offense while holding Rutgers to 38 yards total on the ground.

Freshman running back Dion Lewis paced the Panthers attack by gashing a strong Rutgers defense for 180 yards on 31 carries. His 58-yard touchdown run with 5:19 left in the third quarter gave Pitt a 24-10 lead and forced the conservative Rutgers offense to play catch-up.

During the four-game losing streak, Pitt was unable to establish their running game. The low point came during the 37-29 loss in 2005, a game in which Pitt was held to -11 yards rushing. In 2006, Ray Rice ripped through Pitt’s defense for 225 yards and a score during the Scarlet Knights 20-10 win at Heinz Field.

Friday night saw the Panthers offensive line gain control and shove the Rutgers defensive front almost all the way to Atlantic City. The front wall nearly ended the game themselves late in the fourth quarter. With the Panthers leading by seven, Pitt ate up nearly seven minutes and held the ball for 13 plays before kicker Dan Hutchins 30-yard field goal attempt sailed wide-right.

Pitt’s defense then stood strong and held on fourth down and six when cornerback Jovani Chappel stripped the ball from Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu at the Scarlet Knights 46 yard line. Cornerback Antwuan Reed recovered and sealed the deal for the Panthers.

The Panthers defense may have turned in their best performance of the season. Both Rutgers touchdowns were courtesy of short fields created by turnovers. Pitt sacked Tom Savage three times and intercepted him once.

Safety Dom DeCicco turned in a solid night of work, compiling 10 total tackles and the interception of Savage early in the second quarter. DeCicco rebounded nicely after allowing a Rutgers punt to hit him in the leg early in the first quarter that the Scarlet Knights recovered. Sanu scored for Rutgers and appeared to put Pitt in a devastating early hole, but the Panthers simply inhaled and flexed their muscles.

Defensive Gus Mustakas also was an impact player on the evening. He logged three tackles, two for losses, one sack and disrupted the Scarlet Knights offensive plans all evening. Fellow linemates Mick Williams and Myles Caragein also chipped in with quarterback sacks.

Although it wasn’t his best performance this season, quarterback Bill Stull held it together enough to complete 16 of 24 passes for 153 yards and one score, a seven-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dorin Dickerson in the first quarter. Rutgers applied a consistent pass rush and stuck tight to Pitt’s receivers all night. Still, Stull did not throw a costly interception. He did fumble after being sacked by Damaso Munoz in the fourth quarter. Eric LeGrand recovered near midfield and put Rutgers in position to pull within seven points.

But they would get no closer as Pitt displayed their mettle and refused to lose, improving their record to 6-1 overall, 3-0 in the Big East and setting themselves up for a possible conference title push as the season rolls on.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt would not have it any other way.