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Sunday, November 04, 2001

Compiled by Shelly Anderson

Pitt (3-5) vs. Rutgers (2-6), 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Rutgers Stadium, New Brunswick, N.J. The Panthers have not lost to the Scarlet Knights since a 21-16 setback Sept. 17, 1992.

Pitt was credited with just two sacks of Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Noel, but that's mostly because Noel did a good job of getting rid of the ball just before being leveled by Panthers defenders. Between Pitt's pass rush and their coverage downfield, Noel apparently started to get bothered. "He was definitely looking for the hit each time," Panthers defensive end Brian Guzek said. "He was getting hit every time he threw the ball." Noel, a first-year starter who replaced top NFL draft pick Michael Vick, completed 15 of 29 passes for 118 yards and threw two interceptions before freshman Bryan Randall took over in the fourth quarter. Pitt was playing without starting defensive end Ryan Smith, who was dressed but did not play because of a problem with his right shoulder. "We covered them well and made Grant have to hit some hard throws," Panthers Coach Walt Harris said. "I think it wasn't his day." In fact, Noel was ill. "Yes, but it did not affect me or the other 22 people out there," Noel said.

Here's a look at some of the statistics that show how Pitt dominated Virginia Tech: The Hokies had eight first downs to Pitt's 24, and Tech gained 15 yards rushing and had 151 yards of total offense. They averaged 2.5 yards per play. Coming into the game, Virginia Tech had averaged 5.5 yards per play and had given up 3.1 yards a play. Pitt averaged 5.5 yards a play yesterday. The Hokies had the ball 25:32, Pitt 34:28. Virginia Tech was 3 for 16 on third downs. Pitt has held its past two opponents to minus-21 yards rushing.

The Hokies, who have prided themselves on being as good on special teams as anyone in the nation for more than a decade, got their only touchdown on Ronyell Whitaker's 71-yard return of a blocked field goal. But Virginia Tech also had a couple of miscues on special teams. In the second quarter, freshman DeAngelo Hall plowed into Pitt punt-returner Antonio Bryant well before the ball got there. His 15-yard penalty put the Panthers at the Hokies' 46, helping to set up a field goal by Nick Lotz that gave Pitt a 17-7 lead. "Hall humbled himself and came to me and apologized," Bryant said. "Like I told my coaches, a lot of people are going to try to take me out of the game because of the threat. Some people are going to sit out there on suicide missions." In the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech tried a fake punt, but Panthers freshman Ty Gilliard tackled punter Vinnie Burns at the Hokies' 33, setting up Pitt's final touchdown.

Members of Pitt's 1976 national championship team were honored just before the Panthers took the field. Heisman Trophy winner Tony Dorsett and 13 other starters attended. Earlier, Dorsett was on hand for the formal unveiling of Tony Dorsett Drive between Heinz Stadium and PNC Park.

After the game, assistant head coach and defensive tackles coach Bob Junko stationed himself outside the Pitt locker room and congratulated and cheered the team as it came off the field.

Bryant, who had five catches for 93 yards, has averaged nine catches, 145 yards and two touchdowns in his three career games against the Hokies. ... Pitt's 17 points in the second quarter were the most Virginia Tech has given up in any quarter this year. ... Quarterback Rod Rutherford scored his sixth touchdown of the season, tops on the team. ... Senior kicker Nick Lotz, who accounted for eight points, moved into a tie for sixth place on Pitt's career scoring list with 181 points. ... Virginia Tech lost starting receiver Shawn Whitten early in the first quarter to what was believed to be a broken right fibula. He was taken off the field on a cart. ... The last time Virginia Tech lost two games in a row was in 1997, against Pitt and Virginia. ... Even though Pitt scored 38 points, the Panthers only started plays inside the Virginia Tech 20 on two drives. That meant fans got two chances to see the new feature at Heinz Field -- two giant ketchup bottles that "spill" the red stuff down the scoreboard in red lights when the home team breaches the red zone. ... Fans and even some members of the Pitt team and others along the sideline got a distraction in the third quarter after the Panthers had taken control of the game. There was a domestic disturbance in a luxury suite A security guard intervened, but not until a number of people turned their back to the field to watch and, in some cases, cheer. ... Hokies receiver/returner Andre Davis has been awarded an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as one of 16 2001 National College Scholar-Athletes.