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Pitt Wins To Earn Berth In Sun Bowl

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2008

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Bill Stull threw two touchdowns and LeSean McCoy ran for another as Pittsburgh beat Connecticut, 34-10, on Saturday to give the Panthers their first nine-win regular season since 1982 and a bid to the Sun Bowl.

Pittsburgh scored 24 points in the third quarter to blow open a close game in front of officials from the bowl, who said they would offer the Panthers a bid to play in the New Year's Eve game.

The victory assures Pitt (9-3, 5-2) a share of second place in the Big East.

Connecticut finishes the regular season 7-5, and 3-4 in the conference. That should be good enough to send the Huskies to a bowl, possibly the Motor City Bowl, which had a representative at the game. A slot in that game would open up if Ohio State is chosen by a BCS bowl today.

UConn's Donald Brown ran for 189 yards on 34 carries, assuring he will end the regular season as the nation's leading rusher. His 57-yard run with 4:29 left in the third quarter brought the Huskies within 13-10.

Stull responded on the next play, finding Derek Kinder over the middle on a post pattern for a 61-yard touchdown.

After an 18-yard UConn punt, Stull hooked up with tight end Nate Byham for a 28-yard score that made it 27-10 with just 8 seconds left in the third.

McCoy burst up the middle for a 47-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter that broke a 3-3 tie.

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