Pitt
Rutgers
Panthers Rout Rutgers, 42-0
11/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov 10, 2001
By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - David Priestley threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in a first-half surge that led Pittsburgh to a 42-0 victory over hapless Rutgers on Saturday.
Priestley connected with All-America receiver Antonio Bryant on touchdown passes of 9, 13 and 28 yards and found R.J. English on a 21-yarder as the Panthers (4-5, 3-3 Big East) won their third straight game after losing five in a row.
Priestley, who was 17-of-25 for 307 yards, also ran 10 yards for a touchdown. Tailback Raymond Kirkley scored on a 35-yard run as the Panthers scored touchdowns on six of eight first-half possessions, including their final five.
The four touchdown passes and the three TD receptions matched career highs for Priestley and Bryant, respectively. The three TDs also gave Bryant 27 in his career, breaking the school mark of 24 previously held by Dwight Collins (1980-83) and Dietrich Jells (1991-95).
The Panthers limited Rutgers to 112 yards in posting their second shutout of the season. The other was a 31-0 win over East Tennessee State in the season opener.
It was the 14th straight conference loss and 21st in 22 games for Rutgers (2-7, 0-6). If there was any consolation, this one wasn't as bad as last week's 80-7 loss at West Virginia, the school's worst loss in 113 years.
Pittsburgh averaged almost 10 yards in gaining 392 first-half yards and scoring on drives of 80, 60, 80, 50, 77 and 27 yards.
Rutgers averaged 25 inches in being held to 21 yards in the half. In being shut out for the third time in league play, the Scarlet Knights didn't cross midfield until Marcus Jones reached the 46 with a 6-yard run with 7:06 to play in the game.
