LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Pitt was picked to win the Big East Conference championship in a preseason poll of media members who cover the team, but the Panthers looked like a shaky pick after blowing a second-half lead a week ago at North Carolina State in their final tune-up before the conference season began.

But Pitt bounced back nicely and took its first step toward that goal with a 35-10 victory against Louisville last night before a crowd of 39,948 at Papa Johns Cardinals Stadium. It was the first Big East game of the season for both teams.

Pitt (4-1, 1-0) trailed, 10-7, at the half but got two quick third-quarter strikes -- one to tight end Dorin Dickerson and the other to Jonathan Baldwin -- to take an 11-point lead and never looked back.

"At the half, we knew we really made too many mistakes to score points," Pitt quarterback Bill Stull said. "But we cleaned some things up and took some shots and made the two big plays to sort of take control of the game a little. It was nice to finish this one after the way things went last week."

Stull had yet another solid performance as he completed 16 of 23 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, Stull has thrown for 11 touchdown passes and only one interception, though he got away with at least two passes last night which were dropped by Louisville defenders.

Pitt's defense also showed up in a big way, particularly after the half, as the Panthers bottled up the Cardinals offense. Pitt sacked Louisville quarterback Adam Froman six times, including a career-high 3 1/2 by defensive end Greg Romeus.

It was the kind of performance people had been expecting from Romeus this season, but one he admits he hadn't delivered until last night.

"This is just a start for us, for me," Romeus said. "We knew as a defensive line we had to start playing better, and tonight, I thought we went out their focused and got the job done. But we know we can even play better than we did."

Pitt then finished with a knock-out blow -- a 12-play, 63-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive which consumed 5:25. The drive, which was powered by nine runs from freshman Ray Graham, including a 5-yard run for the touchdown, gave the Panthers a commanding 28-10 lead and took away any life the Cardinals (1-3, 0-1) had left.

"It was nice to see Ray finish the drive that way after he fumbled earlier in the game," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said, "Both he and [Dion Lewis] are freshman, but our running backs coach David Walker has done a great job of getting them ready to play."

Louisville led, 7-0, after Joe Tronzo scored on a 1-yard touchdown run that capped an eight-play, 73-yard drive. Pitt then tied the score on the ensuing drive -- a drive which was aided by two personal foul penalties against Louisville -- as Stull hit Dickerson with a 5-yard touchdown pass.

The ball actually was intended for Cedric McGee, but it bounced off of McGee's hands and right to Dickerson.

"That's when I thought to myself, well, maybe this one is going to go our way," Stull said.

Chris Philpott gave the Cardinals a 10-7 lead with three seconds to play in the half with a 32-yard field goal. Dickerson opened the second half scoring with a 37-yard touchdown reception, which gave the Panthers their first lead ,14-10.

Louisville was driving but Myles Caragein forced a fumble of Louisville quarterback Adam Froman and it was recovered by Gus Mustakas at Pitt's 29.

The next play, Stull hit Baldwin with a 71-yard touchdown pass. It is the second consecutive game the two connected on a scoring pass of at least 70 yards.

NOTES -- Receiver Cameron Saddler left the game in the first quarter with a left ankle sprain after he took big hit on a 42-yard kick-off return. ... ... Pitt safety Elijah Fields was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. ... Defensive tackle Mick Williams and Baldwin did not start with their respective units. Both did enter the game on the second drive. Wannstedt said Williams hadn't practiced because of a thigh injury but Baldwin was being disciplined for an "internal team issue." ... Adam Gunn (high ankle sprain) returned to his starting middle linebacker spot. Gunn will be featured this morning on ESPN Gameday (estimated time of his feature about 10:20 a.m.) as a player who has overcome personal adversity.

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