Nick Romeo celebrate
a touchdown against
Boston College
Panthers Lead Syracuse 28-14 with 15 Minutes to Play
10/24/2003 9:48:16 AM | Football
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PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Pittsburgh scored with 1:46 left in the third quarter to take a 28-14 lead against Syracuse at Heinz Field. The Orangemen have control of the ball at their own 45-yard line less than one minute into the fourth quarter.
Syracuse took a 7-0 lead against Pitt on a 10-yard fumble return by sophomore cornerback Steve Gregory with 11:14 remaining in the first quarter. Gregory picked up the ball after Panther punter Andy Lee fumbled the snap and ran it 10 yards into the endzone.
Pittsburgh had started the drive at its own 36-yard line, but was pushed back to the 21 after a 15-yard penalty. Senior Josh Thomas sacked Pitt quarterback Rod Rutherford for a loss of 16 yards to bring up second-and-41. Jawan Walker picked up 17 yards on the next two plays, and Lee came in to punt the ball on fourth-and-24.
On the next drive, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught three passes for 51 yards, including a three-yard touchdown reception to tie the game, 7-7.
Syracuse regained the lead on its next possession. Junior running back Walter Reyes rushed six times for 37 yards on a 13-play, 80-yard drive. Senior quarterback R.J. Anderson capped the drive with a two-yard scamper into the endzone with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
The Panthers started their next possession at their own 29-yard line. On the second play, Rutherford found Fitzgerald on a 35-yard pass, advancing Pitt to the Syracuse 32 and bringing up first-and-10. Rutherford completed a pass to Princell Brockenbough for a gain of 16 yards to end the first quarter. Rutherford completed a pass to Kris Wilson on the first play of the second quarter to tie the game, 14-14.
On the next four drives, the two teams traded punts. With less than five minutes left in the quarter, Syracuse started a drive from its own 18 yard line. On the second play, Anderson pitched the ball to Reyes on the run, but the ball hit the field and rolled away from Reyes. Josh Lay recovered the ball and ran 20 yards to the endzone to give Pitt a one-touchdown cushion.
Both teams' punting units were on the field for much of the third quarter. With less than seven minutes to play, Pittsburgh took over at its own 33-yard line. The Panthers capped a 11-play, 67-yard drive when Rutherford found Fitzgerald near the endzone, and Fitzgerald got a foot into the endzone before being taken down for Pitt's fourth touchdown of the game.
