CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For the third time in three games, the Pitt Panthers were involved in a down-to-the-wire game.

But this time, the outcome was much different.

Pitt's Dan Hutchins kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining to lift the Panthers to a 19-17 victory against North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl before 50,389 at Bank of America Stadium yesterday.

Hutchins' kick, his Pitt bowl-record fourth field goal of the game, capped an impressive, 17-play, 79-yard drive that consumed 8:47. Not surprisingly, the Panthers' fate was put almost exclusively on the shoulders of freshman tailback Dion Lewis, who carried the ball 13 times for 58 yards on the final drive.

Lewis finished with 28 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown and was named the game's MVP, which is just one more honor in what has to be considered one of the best freshmen seasons turned in by a tailback.

His yardage total left him with 1,799 yards for the season, a freshman rushing record at Pitt, eclipsing the mark of 1,686 set by Tony Dorsett in 1973.

It was the Panthers (10-3) first bowl victory since the 2002 Insight Bowl, snapping a three-game bowl losing streak.

It also marked the first time the Panthers finished with 10 wins since the 1981 season. When the final polls come out after the bowl games, they are likely to finish ranked in the top 15 for the first time since 1982.

Missed opportunities added up to a frustrating first half for the Panthers, starting on the first drive of the game.

Pitt marched down the field and had a first-and-10 at the North Carolina 42 when Bill Stull hit Dorin Dickerson in the hands in the end zone with what should have been an easy touchdown pass.

Dickerson, however, dropped the pass and the drive stalled and they had to settle for a 40-yard field-goal attempt by Hutchins.

But Hutchins' kick was wide right and North Carolina took possession at the Panthers' 23, marched 77 yards on seven plays and scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from T.J. Yates to Greg Little.

Little made a great play to catch the ball and get one foot down in- bounds, but he celebrated by punting the ball into the stands, drawing a 15-yard penalty on the ensuing kickoff.

Pitt had good field position and again drove right down the field, this time to the Tar Heels' 26, where they faced a third-and-4.

Stull then handed the ball to Lewis, who ran 25 yards to the Tar Heels' 1 but was hit and fumbled the ball through the end zone.

The result of the fumble was a touchback and North Carolina took possession at its own 20, leaving the Panthers trailing, 7-0.

Pitt finally got on the board on its third drive, though again it went away disappointed. It had to settle for a 31-yard field goal by Hutchins.

The Panthers' defense, though, played a great game and gave the team a chance to win because it kept stuffing the Tar Heels. Finally, the offense did its part after another North Carolina three-and-out.

Pitt took possession at North Carolina's 45 and Lewis needed only three plays -- runs of 9 yards, 25 yards and then 11 yards for a touchdown.

North Carolina tied the score on a 37-yard field goal by Casey Barth with 1:05 to play in the half, but the Panthers weren't done yet.

Barth made a mistake and kicked the ensuing kickoff out of bounds, so Pitt took possession at its own 40 and drove 46 yards in six plays to the 14, and Hutchins made a 31-yard field goal as time expired giving Pitt a 13-10 halftime lead.

Hutchins then made a 42-yarder early in the third quarter to give the Panthers a 16-10 lead, but all of those missed opportunities came back to haunt them as the Tar Heels offense seemed to be heating up.

North Carolina started its ensuing drive at the 30 and needed 10 plays to drive 70 yards and score the go-ahead touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Yates to Little with four minutes left in the fourth.

The score remained that way until Hutchins' final field goal with 52 seconds to play.

After Hutchins' field goal, the Tar Heels (8-5) did drive to near midfield but the Panthers defense stiffened and when Yates' fourth-down pass fell incomplete with less than 10 seconds to play, the Panthers celebrated and Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt was doused with a Gatorade shower to celebrate his first bowl victory.

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