Pittsburgh Defeats Boston College, 24-13, in Big East Clash

11/1/2003

Fitzgerald sets two NCAA receiving records in Panthers' victory.

      CHESTNUT HILL, Mass.- Larry Fitzgerald broke two NCAA marks as Pittsburgh defeated Boston College, 24-13, in front of 41,983 at Alumni Stadium. Fitzgerald broke the NCAA mark for consecutive games with a touchdown reception (14) and also broke the national record for touchdown receptions during his freshman and sophomore campaigns (28).

      Fitzgerald ended the day with seven catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Rod Rutherford threw for 329 yards on 24-of-37 passing and a touchdown.

      Both teams started the game trading field goals. Derrick Knight ran for 21 yards on the first play of the game and Sandro Sciortino kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

      The Panthers responded after a 58-yard reception by Fitzgerald. David Abdul kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the game at three after one quarter.

      Pittsburgh would strike quickly in the second quarter. Jawan Walker capped off an eight play, 51-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run to give the Panthers a 10-3 lead. The touchdown for Walker was his third of the season.

      The Eagles soared right back, scoring 10 unanswered points. Horace Dodd ran one yard into the end zone to tie the score at 10. Then, with less than three minutes remaining in the first half, Scortino gave Boston College their second lead of the game, 13-10 at halftime, with a 23-yard field goal. The field goal was set up by a 69-yard reception by Grant Adams.

      At the half, Fitzgerald had five catches for 118 yards, his 11^th of his career tying Fitzgerald for second all-time in the Big East with Syracuse?s Marvin Harrison. Lousaka Polite had five receptions for 51 yards.

      Both teams came out in the third quarter playing conservative football. William ?Tutu? Ferguson had a return of 29 yards on a punt to the Boston College 33, but Abdul was unable to convert on a 27-yard field goal attempt keeping the score 13-10 Boston College heading into the fourth quarter.

      After holding the ball for more then 11 minutes of the third quarter, the Panthers were able to punch the ball into the end zone as the fourth quarter begin. Rutherford threw a screen pass to Walker who went 47 yards for the touchdown, his second of the day and fourth of the season. The touchdown gave the Panthers a 17-13 lead with 13 minutes remaining in the game.

      Later in the fourth quarter, the Panthers fooled everyone in Alumni Stadium and ran a halfback pass play. Walker hit Fitzgerald in the end zone from 35 yards out to break the record for consecutive games with at least one receiving touchdown for Fitzgerald. The touchdown marks the 14^th consecutive game Fitzgerald has receiving a pass in the end zone. The score gave Pittsburgh a commanding 24-13 which they would not relinquish.

       Walker becomes the first Pittsburgh player to catch as well as rush and throw for a touchdown in the same game.

      Pittsburgh (6-2, 3-0) will be home next Saturday to take on Virginia Tech at Heinz Field. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN or ESPN2.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh vs. Boston College

November 1, 2003

?         With his touchdown reception, Larry Fitzgerald now exclusively holds two NCAA records and tied one school record.

?         Fitzgerald now has caught at least one touchdown pass in 14 consecutive games, surpassing the NCAA mark of 13 he previously held with Michigan State?s Charles Rogers.

?         Additionally, Fitzgerald now has 28 touchdown catches over the past two season (16 this year and 12 last year). That breaks the NCAA mark for most touchdown catches caught as a freshman and sophomore (set by Florida?s Jabar Gaffney in 2000 and 2001).

?         Also, Fitzgerald?s touchdown catch was his 16^th of the season, tying the school record for receiving touchdowns in one season held by Julius Dawkins in 1981.

?         With 156 yards receiving today, Fitzgerald now ranks second on Pittsburgh?s all-time receiving yards in a season list with 1,174 yards behind Antonio Bryant?s 1,457 yards in 2000.

?         Fitzgerald has achieved the 11^th 100-yard receiving game of his career. That total ties him for second in Big East history with Syracuse?s Marvin Harrison. Pittsburgh?s Antonio Bryant is first with 13 career 100-yard receiving games.

?         With a touchdown pass today, Rod Rutherford now ranks third on Pittsburgh?s all-time passing touchdowns in a season list with 25 this season.

?         Pittsburgh has now won 21 of their last 27 games, their winningest stretch in two decades.

?         This is Pittsburgh?s second consecutive season starting 3-0 in the Big East Conference

?         With a 24-13 victory in Alumni Stadium, this marks the first time since 1989 that Pittsburgh has won at Boston College.

?         Pittsburgh has now scored in 84 consecutive games, the second longest streak amongst Big East members. Virginia Tech ranks first with a 103-game scoring streak.

?         Tim Murphy made his first career start at tailback, and his second career start. He started November 9, 2002 vs. Temple at fullback for the injured Lousaka Polite.

?         Fitzgerald?s 58-yard reception in the first quarter is his longest of the season.

?         Pittsburgh is now 11-3 in its last 14 road games and 3-1 this season.

?         Jawan Walker?s two-touchdown game marks the second time this season he has scored two touchdowns in a game. He had two against Rutgers earlier this season.

?         Walker?s touchdown pass is the first passing touchdown of his career and the first touchdown pass by a non-quarterback since Marcus Furman?s touchdown pass versus West Virginia on Nov. 24, 2001.

University of Pittsburgh Athletics

Pittsburgh Defeats Boston College, 24-13, in Big East Clash

Related News

Related Videos