Pitt
Youngstown State
Pittsburgh Rolls Over Youngstown State, 41-0
9/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 24, 2005
Final Stats | Photo Gallery
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Maybe wearing Tony Dorsett-era uniforms was all Pittsburgh needed to get out of a season-long offense slump.
Tyler Palko shrugged off two early Pitt turnovers to throw for three touchdowns and Raymond Kirkley scored in the first two minutes of each half Saturday in a 41-0 victory over Division I-AA Youngstown State - the Panthers' first win under new coach Dave Wannstedt.
Pitt opened 0-3, but may have changed its luck by wearing throwback light blue and gold uniforms with the script "Pitt" helmet worn during the first Johnny Majors era from 1972-76.
There was no lack of offense against a Youngstown State team that was outmatched from the start. The Penguins (3-1) averaged 40 points in their first three games against decidedly weak opposition, but didn't convert on third down until the fourth quarter and never seriously threatened.
Palko was one of the nation's top quarterbacks statistically over the second half of last season, with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions as Pitt won five of its final six, but had only one touchdown and four interceptions this season in losses to Notre Dame, Ohio and Nebraska.
But the Palko-to-Greg Lee combination that hooked up for 10 touchdowns last season re-emerged as Lee caught six passes for 141 yards and a 55-yard touchdown. Lee made four catches for 117 yards in the third quarter, setting up Kirkley's 12-yard scoring run with a 55-yard catch on the second play of the half, then catching a 27-yard touchdown pass later in the quarter.
Palko threw a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Erik Gill midway through the second quarter after Pitt threatened two other times, only to turn the ball over twice near the goal line.
But the Panthers pulled away in an 18-point third quarter, mostly because Lee kept getting downfield behind the Penguins' slower defensive backs, and Wannstedt emptied his bench in the fourth quarter.
David Abdul also kicked field goals of 22 and 40 yards but missed an extra point.
Pitt outgained Youngstown State 528-152 in the first meeting between two schools located 70 miles apart. Kirkley, who began the season as Pitt's No. 4 tailback, added 83 yards on 17 carries though Pitt didn't run much until the fourth quarter.
Penguins quarterback Tom Zetts came into the game 42-of-58 for 513 yards with six touchdowns and an interception, but was only 6-of-19 for 29 yards and an interception.
Youngstown State is 19-19-1 against Division I-A teams since 1981, but hasn't beaten a major college opponent since Kent State in 2000. Pitt is 4-0 against Division I-AA opponents, including a 41-38 overtime win over Furman last season.
