Miami defeats Pittsburgh 28-14

11/29/2003

PITTSBURGH, PA- Larry Fitzgerald caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to extend his NCAA record of consecutive games with a touchdown to 18, while tying Randy Moss (Marshall, 1997) for the NCAA record of 12 consecutive games in one season with a touchdown catch, but it wasn?t enough for the Panthers as the Miami Hurricanes defeated Pittsburgh 28-14 at Heinz Field in the regular season finale.

            The game started off on the right foot for the Panthers. After the defense held the Hurricanes to three plays and a punt of their first possession, the Pittsburgh offense went of the attack.

Brandon Miree had a 13-yard run on a third down and one to give the Panthers a big first down. A few plays later, Rod Rutherford hit Princell Brockenbrough for a 26-yard gain to the Miami 13-yard line.  After a pass interference call on a pass intended for Fitzgerald in the end zone, the Panthers were given a first and goal from the four, and three plays later, Rutherford hit Kris Wilson in the end zone to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was Wilson?s ninth of the season to lead all tight ends in the nation.

However, Miami responded with 28 unanswered points. Tryone Moss scored two touchdowns of 30, and six yards to give the Hurricanes a 14-7  halftime lead.

In the second half, the Hurricanes continued to extend their lead. Jason Geathers, caught a 78-yard pass from Brock Berlin down to Pittsburgh?s one-yard line. On the ensuing play, Jarett Payton ran into the end zone for the one-yard touchdown run to put Miami on top 21-7.

The Hurricanes went up 28-7 on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Berlin to Roscoe Parrish.

The one bright spot for the Panthers came late in the fourth quarter. Fitzgerald caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Rutherford to extend his consecutive games with a touchdown streak to an NCAA record 18 games. The touchdown was his 22^nd of the season, one shy of the school record of 23, set by Tony Dorsett in 1976.

Fitzgerald?s score cut the Miami lead to 28-14. Pittsburgh then attempted a successful on-side kick, but Rutherford?s pass attempt was intercepted by Mo Sikes ending the Panthers hopes and giving Miami a 28-14 win.

Pittsburgh ends its regular season 8-4 and has accepted a bid to play in the Continental Tire Bowl on December 27^th in Charlotte, North Carolina against the University of Virginia (7-5).

PITTSBURGH vs. MIAMI GAME NOTES

November 29, 2003

Pittsburgh accepts its fourth consecutive bowl bid, heading to the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte on December 27, 2003, where they will take on Virginia. This is Pittsburgh?s most successful postseason stretch since going to nine consecutive bowl games between 1975 and 1983. This is also Pittsburgh?s fifth postseason appearance in Walt Harris? seven seasons as head coach.

Pittsburgh finishes 5-2 in conference play for a second consecutive year.

OFFENSE

Larry Fitzgerald finishes the regular season with a total of 132 (22 TD receptions) points. 2003 marks the second consecutive season he finishes with the team lead in scoring. He is the first player to lead Pittsburgh in scoring in consecutive seasons since Scott Kaplan (1990, 1991). His 132 points scored this season are the most since Tony Dorsett scored 140 points (23 rushing TDs, one 2-point conversion) in 1976.

Larry Fitzgerald extends his NCAA-record of consecutive games with a touchdown reception to 18. He ties a NCAA record of 12 consecutive games with a TD reception in one season, set by Marshall?s Randy Moss in 1997. He also adds to his NCAA-record of 34 touchdown receptions in freshman and sophomore seasons combined and his Big East record of 22 TD receptions in one season.

With his 206 yards passing today, Rod Rutherford now has 10 games this season with at least 200 yards passing. He also threw for at least two touchdown passes in a game for the 11^th time this season.

Kris Wilson?s first-quarter TD reception is his ninth of the season, the most of any tight end in the nation.

Greg Lee?s 39-yard reception in the third quarter was his third reception of 30 or more yards of the season. He averaged 22.5 yards on nine receptions this season.

Pittsburgh ran the ball on its first seven plays of the game, leading to a first-quarter touchdown.

DEFENSE

Tyrone Gilliard?s first-quarter interception was the first of his career.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Terrell Allen?s 63-yard kickoff return in the first quarter was a career-long, and the team?s longest this season.

Lewis Moore?s forced fumble on a punt in the fourth quarter was his third of the year, a team-best.

Miami defeats Pittsburgh 28-14

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