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Pitt falls to Mississippi in BBVA Compass Bowl
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Mississippi receiver Randall Mackey catches a touchdown pass as Pitt Jarred Holley defends during the first quarter of today's BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham. -
Mississippi wide receiver Vince Sanders scores a touchdown as Pitt defensive back Anthony Gonzalez pursues during the first half of today's BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Facing a swarm of red in the stands and on the field, Pitt dropped its second consecutive BBVA Compass Bowl Saturday, falling to Mississippi 38-17.
Missing senior Ray Graham due to a hamstring injury, Pitt rushed for just 81 yards and was outgained by Ole Miss in total yards 392-266.
Trailing 14-0 in the second quarter, Pitt answered back with a six-play, 25-yard touchdown drive after a K'Waun Williams interception to make it 14-7.
The Panthers had no answer for the Rebels' tempo on offense, though, and the Rebels raced back down the field in 1:03 on the ensuing drive to extend their lead back to two touchdowns.
In the third quarter, Pitt held the ball for just 3:23 and registered four total yards, all of them coming on the final play of the stanza.
Playing in his final game for Pitt, quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 16 of 32 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. He threw his first interception since Sept. 15 on his second pass attempt of the game, snapping a streak of 271 interception-free pass attempts.
Making his first career start in Graham's place, freshman Rushel Shell ran for 79 yards on 25 carries.
The Rebels overwhelmed Pitt on the field, and legions of Ole Miss fans made the three-hour drive from Oxford, Miss., to Birmingham to set a BBVA Compass Bowl attendance record of 59,135, nearly all of them in Rebel red.
First Published January 5, 2013 4:39 pm
