PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Dion Lewis played his high school football at Blair Academy in New Jersey, about 45 minutes from Rutgers' campus, but he didn't get recruited by the Scarlet Knights, even though he personally delivered his highlight tape to the coaching staff.

Lewis insists he had forgotten about that and wasn't even thinking about it until yesterday before the Panthers' game at Rutgers last night, when his coaches and teammates continually reminded him and prodded him.

"My coaches kept walking up to me and saying stuff like, 'Did they offer you a scholarship?' and other stuff like that all day," Lewis said. "I really hadn't thought much about it, I just wanted to play well and help my team win."

Lewis may have forgotten that the Scarlet Knights coaches didn't offer him a scholarship, but he certainly did his best to remind them about what a mistake they made in letting him get out of New Jersey and go to Pitt.

That's because Lewis rushed 31 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers to a 24-17 victory against the Scarlet Knights before a crowd of 50,296 at Rutgers Stadium. The victory was the Panthers' first victory against Rutgers (4-2, 0-2) since 2004 and snapped Pitt's four-game losing streak in the series.

It is only the third time the Panthers (6-1, 3-0) have began 3-0 in the Big East Conference and sets up a huge showdown against South Florida (5-1, 1-1) next Saturday at Heinz Field.

"I don't believe he is a freshman," said Pitt quarterback Bill Stull of Lewis. "He is a senior. He is an amazing player, he makes some plays that are spectacular."

Defensive end Mick Williams added: "Man, ... watching him run the ball is something special. I spent all training camp trying to chase him down, I'm just glad I get to stand and watch other guys try it."

Pitt led, 17-10, at the half and Lewis put them ahead 24-10 with a 58-yard touchdown run with 5:19 to play in the third quarter.

It should have been the play that slammed the door on the Scarlet Knights, but the Panthers failed to close it out and made a plethora of mistakes going down the stretch and almost blewtheir lead.

Rutgers pulled to within 24-17 with 9:37 to play on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Tom Savage to Tim Brown after Stull fumbled on the Panthers' 49.

The Panthers actually had a chance to stop that drive as Rutgers faced a fourth-and-3 at the Panthers' 27, but Savage connected with Sanu for an 8-yard pass to extend the drive.

Pitt then seemed to take control as they drove 60 yards in 13 plays -- most of them runs by Lewis -- to set up what should have been a clinching 30-yard field goal by Dan Hutchins.

But Hutchins shanked it wide right and that kept the Scarlet Knights alive. It was the second missed field goal by Hutchins in the game and one of a number of missed opportunities the Panthers had.

Rutgers then took possession at its own 20 with 2:31 to play and got one first down, but then faced a fourth-and 6 on its own 42, but the Panthers' defense forced a fumble and the took a knee to run out the clock.

"This was a big win for our football team," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "They never quit, they stuck together through the highs and lows and made enough plays to win the football game. We still haven't played our best football yet, though, and we have a lot of work to do. We want to continue to improve, but it was nice to finally beat these guys.

"Most of you know I am usually conservative when talking about our players, but Dion Lewis is a special football player."

Pitt's defense played an excellent game, holding Rutgers to 38 yards rushing on 20 carries and sacking Savage three times.

NOTES -- Pitt senior starting cornerback Aaron Berry did not play because of a shoulder injury. Junior Ricky Gary started in his place. ... Safety Elijah Fields (ankle) did not start but did play. Jarred Holley started in his place. ... Lewis' 58-yard touchdown, his second of the game, gave him 60 points for the season. That is the fourth-best total for a true freshman at Pitt and puts him only 12 points shy of tying Larry Fitzgerald for third place. LeSean McCoy holds the record with 90 points as a freshman.

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