NEXT PANTHERS GAMEDAY:Signing DayFebruary 3rd 2010 Buy Pitt Tickets  
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 Posted on October 3rd, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy 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. Posted on September 30th, 2009 by David WhipkeyBy David Whipkey And now, the meat of the Panthers schedule begins. Pitt (3-1)opens Big East play Friday night with a road contest against the Louisville Cardinals at Papa Johns Stadium. Louisville (1-2) is coming off a physical 30-14 loss at Utah last Saturday. Pitt enters the 8 p.m. contest on the heels of a tough 38-31 loss at North Carolina State. Panthers coach Dave Wannstedt knows getting off to a good start in conference play is important. He also realizes getting a win before another sell-out road crowd that will be decked out in all black will be difficult. “They are very physical,” said the Pitt coach earlier this week. “They’ve got an outstanding running back. I like their quarterback. He is not a Russell Wilson, but he can get out of trouble and make things happen on his feet.” Pitt’s defense will need to contend with Cardinals running back Vic Anderson. The sophomore is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has three scores this year. He was held to 27 yards on 10 carries in the Cards loss at Utah last week. Cards quarterback Justin Burke has completed 51 percent of his passes this year. However, he has thrown four interceptions to go with his 641 yards passing and three scores. Louisville’s biggest offensive weapons may be at receiver. Scott Long, a 6-foot, 2 senior has hauled in 15 receptions for 218 yards while his running mate Doug Beaumont has 12 catches for 189 yards. “They have a receiver, Scott Long, that didn’t play against us last year,” said Wannstedt. “He is a big time receiver and he is very impressive.” Pitt’s defensive front will have to contend with an offensive line that has only permitted five sacks this season. “I think their offensive line is going to be the most physical we’ve seen this year by far,” said Wannstedt. Senior middle linebacker Jon Dempsey is the bell cow of the Cardinals defense. The 6-foot, 241-pound performer has 34 tackles this year and two sacks. “Defensively, they are doing a good job,” said Wannstedt. “They are similar to us. They will mix in a little pressure here and there. They are physical. They are sound. It’s going to be a big challenge for our football team, no question.” Pitt defeated the injury-plagued Cardinals 41-7 last year at Heinz Field. Panthers quarterback Bill Stull finished with 15 completions in 26 attempts for 216 yards and a 30 yard touchdown pass to Oderick Turner. Louisville beat Pitt 24-17 the last time these two squads met at Papa Johns Stadium. The Panthers had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but running back LeSean McCoy fumbled at the Cardinal one-yard line. Louisville defensive back Rod Council recovered and ended Pitt’s upset bid. Louisville leads the all-time series 7-5. Pitt’s last win at Louisville was a 55-10 decision in 1983. Overall, the Panthers are 7-2 in their past nine road contests. |
 
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