Pitt
Syracuse
Pittsburgh Falls to Syracuse
10/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct 13, 2001
PITTSBURGH (Oct. 13, 2001)-Syracuse blew open a tight game with five unanswered touchdowns in the second half as the Orangemen defeated Pittsburgh, 42-10, at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh led 10-7 at halftime but for the second consecutive game its opponent seized control of the contest in the second half.
The first five minutes of the third quarter proved decisive as Syracuse wiped out a three-point halftime deficit with two touchdowns in less than 90 seconds.
James Mungro scored on a 56-yard run to put the Orangemen up 14-10 with 12:13 left in the third period. Just four plays later, Will Hunter returned an interception 35 yards for a score boosting the lead to 11 points. Syracuse never looked back en route to its 11th straight victory in the series.
Mungro finished with 113 yards. The Orangemen outrushed the Panthers 172 to 92 and held a 311 to 272 advantage in total offense.
Pittsburgh was again plagued by turnovers. The Panthers threw three interceptions and also lost two fumbles. Syracuse took advantage by turning three of those miscues into scores.
The second half was a stark contrast to the first. Pittsburgh took a 10-7 lead into halftime but could have easily been up more. Three drives into Syracuse territory failed to yield any points as Pittsburgh missed two field goals and threw an interception in the end zone.
Pittsburgh went up 7-0 in the first period after a five-play, 66-yard drive. Antonio Bryant's 41-yard reception put the Panthers at the one yard line, where Rod Rutherford sneaked in with 3:39 left in the period.
Syracuse recovered a fumble at the Panther 39 later in the quarter and tied the game when Troy Nunes hit Maurice Jackson with a 27-yard TD pass.
Nick Lotz gave Pittsburgh its first and only lead on a 23-yard field goal with 1:52 left in the half. Lotz's kick came after Bryan Knight forced a Syracuse fumble and its own five. The Panthers could not take full advantage, though, and had to settle for three points, setting the stage for the Orangemen's big second half.
