Pitt
Connecticut
Panthers Trample Huskies 24-0
11/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2005
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PITTSBURGH (AP) - Josh Lay scored on a 71-yard return of a field goal attempt blocked by his former high school teammate, and Pittsburgh turned a mishmash of Connecticut mistakes on offense and special teams into a 24-0 victory Saturday in the Panthers' final home game.
Tyler Palko threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Steve Buches on Pitt's first and only sustained drive, and scored on a 1-yard run to help the Panthers (5-5, 4-2 Big East) win their fifth in a row at home - their only victories in a disappointing season.
UConn (4-5, 1-4) welcomed back quarterback Matt Bonislawski after a three-game layoff because of a separated right shoulder, but his return didn't help much as the Huskies lost their fourth in a row and were shut out for the first time since moving into the Big East last season. Bonislawski was 18-of-35 for 156 yards and three interceptions as the Huskies outgained Pitt 299-192 but couldn't score.
Here's what kind of day it was for the Huskies: They were shut out on a day Matt Nuzie kicked a 20-yard field goal late in the field half. But Pitt's Darrell Strong was called for leaping onto a teammate's back to aid his attempt to block the kick, and UConn chose to go for it from the 1 on the final play of the half.
Cornell Brockington was stacked up near the goal line by Pitt's Rashaad Duncan and H.B. Blades and, while replays appeared to show him scoring, the half ended with UConn having the ball inches from the goal line.
At least Nuzie got off that wiped-out field goal - his previous attempt, a 26-yarder, was blocked by Darrelle Revis and returned by Lay, who played at the same Pittsburgh prep powerhouse, Aliquippa High, with Revis.
Pitt's first blocked field goal touchdown since 1994 made it 14-0 midway through the second quarter and was important considering how the Panthers' offense was struggling. The Panthers managed only 43 yards passing in the first half and 116 overall as Palko was 12-of-21. Also, no Pitt running back gained more than 26 yards as the Panthers were held to 76 yards on 34 carries.
The Panthers' only other touchdown, except for the Palko-to-Buches throw that ended a 64-drive on their first possession, also came off a UConn breakdown. Adam Gunn broke through UConn's punt coverage unit to deflect walk-on Chris Pavasaris' 16-yard punt to the Huskies' 28. Palko scored three plays later after finding Erik Gill for 22 yards to the 2 on second-and-6.
Pavasaris punted after starter Shane Hussar was benched following last week's 45-13 loss to West Virginia.
Josh Cummings also kicked a 42-yard field goal late in the game as Pitt finished up its home schedule with five consecutive Heinz Field victories following a 42-21 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 3, when the Irish were unranked and the Panthers were No. 23.
Pitt must upset No. 16 West Virginia in Morgantown on Thanksgiving to avoid its first losing season since 1999. The Panthers also must win to play in a sixth consecutive bowl game.
UConn, which won the Motor City Bowl last season, must beat South Florida and No. 23 Louisville for any chance to go to another bowl.
The Huskies' previous shutout loss was 56 games ago, 29-0 to Ball State in 2000.
