As expected, Pitt redshirt freshman quarterback Kevan Smith made his first start and had mixed results.

Smith was 15 of 22 for 202 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception and fumbled once.

"Kevan Smith's numbers were decent," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "But the quarterback situation is what it is. In a game like this, you don't come in planning to throw the ball 40 times. Our plan was to throw it 25 times, and that is what we did."

Smith is filling in for junior Bill Stull who is out for at least a month with a thumb injury, but Wannstedt officially did not name him the starter until game time. He got a boost when the Panthers scored three quick touchdowns, but he struggled in spots until he was lifted in the fourth quarter for freshman Pat Bostick.

He said getting this first game under his belt gave him a huge boost of confidence.

"I felt great in the huddle," Smith said. "I'm starting to build a great familiarity with our line and the entire offense. They have full confidence in me, and I believe in them. I can't give this offense enough credit for what they did for the team today."

Too many mistakes

Wannstedt was livid about the mistakes the Panthers made. Pitt was penalized 10 times for 91 yards, turned the ball over three times and allowed two sacks.

"The penalties and turnovers today, there were just some things out there that if we do next week against Michigan State we'll just get run right out of the stadium," Wannstedt said.

"There is no reason for it, we're up, 21-0, and, all of the sudden, we put our guards down I guess and we get sloppy and come up with some penalties."

Welcome back

Mike McGlynn made his first start of the season, but he did not play his usual offensive right tackle position.

McGlynn, a fifth-year senior who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, started at right guard for the first time. His previous 31 starts were at right tackle, but the emergence of sophomore tackle Jason Pinkston has enabled coaches to use McGlynn to shore up the interior line.

"It is a lot different, a lot different than I anticipated," McGlynn said of moving to the inside.

Quick hits

Defensive tackle Gus Mustakas sustained a knee injury and will be evaluated today, but Wannstedt did not seem optimistic about it. ... Tight end John Pelusi (shoulder) did not dress. ... Pitt improved to 7-0 against I-AA opponents. ... Along with Smith, freshman receiver Maurice Williams made his first start. ... Pitt has allowed 13 points through two games, the lowest total by Pitt's first two opponents since the Panthers allowed nine points to Ohio (3) and Boston College (6) to open the 1990 season.