I can only go by press accounts and the play-by-play summary. Despite the free audio on the computer, I couldn’t do it. On dial-up, a streaming audio is jerky and with so many pauses, that it agitates and exacerbates what would have been a rather tense mood given the way the game went, until the 4th quarter.
So any of the other PSBers who listened, feel free to post your POV.
Statistically, I would consider this a more dominating win, than the previous win over Syracuse. Pitt completely dominated time of possession (36:13 to 23:47); first downs (29-18); total offense (488-335); and 3rd down conversion rates (7-16 to 2-13).
Pitt had only two 3-and-out possessions in the game. The offensive line seems to finally be performing closer to expectations, much to the chagrin of some who were expecting another Notre Dame-like performance.
Prior to yesterday’s game, Boston College defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka commented that he and his teammates would exploit the Pitt offensive line. It never happened.
The 6-foot-8 Kiwanuka, who entered leading the Big East with eight sacks, had zero sacks yesterday. He often found himself getting hammered by one of the Pitt running backs.
“I’m shorter, so I squared up and hit him low,” fullback Lousaka Polite said.
The Boston College defense was on the field for 83 plays and 36 minutes, 13 seconds. Pitt rolled up 488 yards against the Eagles. Kiwanuka had no comment about the Panthers afterward.
Of course going into the 4th quarter, Pitt was still losing 13-10. Pitt Kicker, David Abdul, after a solid performance last week, kicked pathetically. He went 1-3, missing 43 yards and 28 yards field goals. Pitt took control of the game on the scoreboard a couple minutes into the 4th quarter with a screen pass from Rutherford to RB, Jawan Walker, that ended up going 47 yards for the touchdown.
Pitt added another touchdown 5 minutes later on a 35 yard halfback pass from Walker to WR, Larry Fitzgerald. This gave Fitzgerald a TD reception in his 14th consecutive game, breaking the NCAA record. He also broke the NCAA record for most TD receptions by a WR in his first 2 years of college — yeah, it’s obscure, but what the hey — with 28. He had his 11th 100+ yard receiving game. He is now 2 behind former Pitt WR, Antonio Bryant for the Big East and Pitt record of 13.
Not that the BC players believe the scoreboard and the statistics relay the truth of the game. They believe they were flagged for a phantom hold in the 4th quarter that led to a TD run by Derrick Knight — who did rush for 119 yards on 19 carries — that would have returned the lead to BC. Quick hats off to Knight, who broke 1,000 yards for the season and 3,000 for his career.
BC linebacker/defensive captain Josh Ott said he played all but two of those plays. Later, when asked if this loss reminded him of last year’s overtime defeat to the same team, Ott said, “No, it wasn’t.
“This year, I thought in the first half we had the game won. Last year, I thought it was kind of an even battle.
“To be honest, I didn’t think they should have won at all. I don’t think they’re better than us, even a little bit.”
Bitter, bitter, bitter. They had a 3 point lead, thanks in part, to a missed field goal by Pitt near the end of the half, and he felt they had the game won by halftime? BC didn’t score a lick in the second half, and he feels they should have won? Whatever gets you through the night.
Quickie Analysis
Hard to do without seeing the game, but…
Pitt got Rutherford out of the pocket and running a little more. This is good and will help open things up given the running game. Using both Tim Murphy and Jawan Walker at RB seems to be helping. Yes, they combined to run for only 71 yards on 19 carries, but the different styles help. And sadly enough, that’s one of the best yards per carry average they’ve had combined all year.
Judging by the number of screens and underneath passes thrown and completed, Pitt took advantage of BC dropping the safeties off to help out on Fitzgerald (who still had 7 catches for 156 yards). Annoying, though, that TE Kris Wilson only had one catch the entire game. Still, the ball was spread around exceptionally well by Rutherford.
Defense really stepped up in this game. BC had 3 three-and-out series and 2 series that only went 4 plays. BC’s longest series was the first series of the game — 4 minutes. Otherwise, the Defense was able to stay off the field.
Final thought. I mentioned that it was hard to find anything on BC in the Boston media. The game coverage was even worse. The Boston Herald had one article, and the Boston Globe relied on an AP wire report. Pathetic. Especially the Globe. An AP story to report on the only local college that has any NCAA presence? Have fun in the ACC, BC.
