Panthers rally past Eagles in overtime
PITTSBURGH – The Panthers never gave up in a tough conference battle against Boston College, pulling a 19-16 overtime victory from the jaws of defeat on the accuracy of true freshman kicker David Abdul’s four field goals. Pittsburgh is off to its best start since 1983 and is 3-0 in the conference for the first time in its 10-year Big East history.
“We thought it would be a down and dirty game because both football teams and both football programs are working day and night to get to the upper level of the Big East,” Pitt head coach Walt Harris said. “Beating Boston College was obviously a tremendous football game for us and that last drive was somewhat miraculous.”
After taking a 13-6 lead into halftime, the Panther offense fell asleep throughout most of the second half. The Eagles kept pecking away at the lead, however. The Eagles kicked a 24-yard field goal at the beginning of the second half and scored a touchdown halfway through the fourth quarter to take a 16-13 lead.
“It’s hard to keep believing after the second half we had, but we just kept fighting and never gave up,” Harris said. “Our defense played tremendous today and kept the game close.”
Even though starting quarterback Rod Rutherford recorded another career-high game, completing 20 of 38 attempts for 201 yards and one touchdown, the Pittsburgh offense was derailed through most of the second half. They woke up just in time with 1:10 left, when Rutherford put together a nine-play, 64-yard drive, which advanced the ball to the Eagle 13-yard line.
“We knew we were in a desperate situation with a long field to drive,” Rutherford said. “I think we made a lot of big plays at the end and we played smart, poised and we executed on that drive.”
Abdul booted a 30-yard field goal to tie the game, 16-16, with five seconds left and forced the overtime period, much to the delight of the 45,060 homecoming day fans in attendance.
“After watching the whole game, watching your team work so hard, you want to go out there and come through when you get your chance,” Abdul said. “I think the good blocking and hold was just as important as the kick.”
The Panthers lost the coin toss in overtime, but it proved to be advantageous, as Pittsburgh was awarded the end zone choice, and picked the closed end of the field, which is where the students and the noisier fans sit.
On their first overtime possession, the Panthers were unable to secure a first down, but Abdul converted a 42-yard try, allowing Pittsburgh to take the 19-16 lead.
“When you are a kicker, you live for the game to be on the line,” Abdul said. “I knew the winning kick was going to be up the middle and hoped it would just make it all the way.”
The Eagles were then given their chance at the end zone from the 25-yard line.
Pittsburgh’s defense played tough all game and the overtime was no different. Defensive end Claude Harriott sacked Eagle quarterback Brian St. Pierre and the rest of the Panther defense held the Eagles to two three-yard rushes.
“We don’t like anybody to get into our end zone,” Harriott said. “We fed off the energy from the crowd, which was icing on the cake.”
Boston College kicker Sandro Sciortino attempted a 39-yard field goal to send the overtime into another period, but his kick hooked left, giving the Panthers the victory.
“Boston College is like Syracuse, we have not been successful against either team recently,” Harris said. “We have had knockdown drag-out games with them in the past and usually have not come away successful.”
Abdul tied a school-record for field goals with the four he converted. The Panther’s only other scoring came at the end of the first quarter when Rutherford hit wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a seven-yard touchdown on a fade route in the left corner of the end zone.
Fitzgerald finished the game with eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, which led all receivers.