Toledo, Ohio - Larry Fitzgerald broke his career high in receiving yards with 201 yards and a touchdown, and Rod Rutherford threw for 315 yards but the Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1, 0-0 Big East) were defeated by the Toledo Rockets (3-1, 1-0 MAC), 35-31, at the Glass Bowl in Toledo Ohio.
Pittsburgh got on the board for the first time in the first quarter this season when Rutherford hit Kris Wilson on a 20-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 7-0. The touchdown for Wilson was his first of the season. On that drive Fitzgerald had two receptions for 75 yards. The drive lasted only 56 seconds with Pittsburgh covering 85 yards on only three plays.
The Rockets would respond immediately, marching 80 yards down the field on nine plays. Trinity Dawson ran the ball four yards into the end zone for Toledo to tie the game at 7-7 after one quarter.
As the second quarter began, the Panthers put together a drive that lasted over five minutes and drove the ball 68 yards to the Toledo 19 before being stopped by the Rocket defense. From there, David Abdul kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Panthers on top 10-7.
Later in the second quarter, Toledo put together a drive only to be intercepted by Malcolm Postell at the Pittsburgh 39-yard line. He retuned the interception 54 yards to Toledo�s 7-yard line. The interception was Postell�s first of his career. Three plays later, from the five yard line, Rutherford hooked up with Wilson in the end zone for the second time on the night. The touchdown gave Pittsburgh a 17-7 lead.
But once again the Rockets would respond immediately. After breaking through the secondary, Bruce Gradkowski hit Lance Moore for a 53-yard touchdown pass, and with five minutes left in the first half, Toledo was once again within three, 17-14.
Pittsburgh would have the last say before halftime. For the ninth consecutive game dating back to last season, Rutherford hit Fitzgerald in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown. The touchdown was Fitzgerald�s sixth of the season and it gave Pittsburgh a 24-14 lead going into halftime. Fitzgerald had 160 yards receiving in the first half alone.
Toledo came out firing in the second half and drove the ball 82 yards down the field, capped off by an 11 yard touchdown pass from Gradkowski to Dawson. The Rockets took over four minutes off the clock and cut the Panther lead to 24-21 on Dawson�s second touchdown of the game.
Late in the third quarter, the Panthers responded. Pittsburgh marched down the field for 70 yards culminating in a five yard touchdown pass from Rutherford to Wilson. The touchdown was Wilson�s third of the night and it gave Pittsburgh a 31-21 lead after three quarters.
On a fourth down in Toledo territory, Steve Odom caught a pass to put Toledo inside the Panther 10-yard line. Two plays later, Dawson found the end zone from two yards out, for his third touchdown on the night. With less than seven minutes remaining in the game, Toledo cut the Pittsburgh lead to 31-28.
Toledo got the ball back again with five minutes to go and began driving again. After two separate measurement first downs, Gradowski hit Moore in the corner of the end zone from nine yards out to put Toledo on top for the first time on the night, 35-31, with 43 seconds remaining.
The Panthers got the ball on the 35-yard line as the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds. However, a last second Hail Mary fell short and Toledo came up victorious.
Pittsburgh (2-1) will face Texas A&M (2-1) next Saturday in College Station, Texas at 3:30 EDT.
Pittsburgh got on the board for the first time in the first quarter this season when Rutherford hit Kris Wilson on a 20-yard touchdown pass to give the Panthers a 7-0. The touchdown for Wilson was his first of the season. On that drive Fitzgerald had two receptions for 75 yards. The drive lasted only 56 seconds with Pittsburgh covering 85 yards on only three plays.
The Rockets would respond immediately, marching 80 yards down the field on nine plays. Trinity Dawson ran the ball four yards into the end zone for Toledo to tie the game at 7-7 after one quarter.
As the second quarter began, the Panthers put together a drive that lasted over five minutes and drove the ball 68 yards to the Toledo 19 before being stopped by the Rocket defense. From there, David Abdul kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Panthers on top 10-7.
Later in the second quarter, Toledo put together a drive only to be intercepted by Malcolm Postell at the Pittsburgh 39-yard line. He retuned the interception 54 yards to Toledo�s 7-yard line. The interception was Postell�s first of his career. Three plays later, from the five yard line, Rutherford hooked up with Wilson in the end zone for the second time on the night. The touchdown gave Pittsburgh a 17-7 lead.
But once again the Rockets would respond immediately. After breaking through the secondary, Bruce Gradkowski hit Lance Moore for a 53-yard touchdown pass, and with five minutes left in the first half, Toledo was once again within three, 17-14.
Pittsburgh would have the last say before halftime. For the ninth consecutive game dating back to last season, Rutherford hit Fitzgerald in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown. The touchdown was Fitzgerald�s sixth of the season and it gave Pittsburgh a 24-14 lead going into halftime. Fitzgerald had 160 yards receiving in the first half alone.
Toledo came out firing in the second half and drove the ball 82 yards down the field, capped off by an 11 yard touchdown pass from Gradkowski to Dawson. The Rockets took over four minutes off the clock and cut the Panther lead to 24-21 on Dawson�s second touchdown of the game.
Late in the third quarter, the Panthers responded. Pittsburgh marched down the field for 70 yards culminating in a five yard touchdown pass from Rutherford to Wilson. The touchdown was Wilson�s third of the night and it gave Pittsburgh a 31-21 lead after three quarters.
On a fourth down in Toledo territory, Steve Odom caught a pass to put Toledo inside the Panther 10-yard line. Two plays later, Dawson found the end zone from two yards out, for his third touchdown on the night. With less than seven minutes remaining in the game, Toledo cut the Pittsburgh lead to 31-28.
Toledo got the ball back again with five minutes to go and began driving again. After two separate measurement first downs, Gradowski hit Moore in the corner of the end zone from nine yards out to put Toledo on top for the first time on the night, 35-31, with 43 seconds remaining.
The Panthers got the ball on the 35-yard line as the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds. However, a last second Hail Mary fell short and Toledo came up victorious.
Pittsburgh (2-1) will face Texas A&M (2-1) next Saturday in College Station, Texas at 3:30 EDT.
1 comment:
I went to the game in Toledo, too bad Wlat didn't use the slide or the swinging gate to sway the outcome of the game further.
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