TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Pitt holds off Notre Dame

ADVERTISEMENT

The Associated Press

Published: November 15, 2009

Updated: 11/15/2009 12:11 am

PITTSBURGH - Jonathan Baldwin made two exceptional catches that allowed No. 8 Pittsburgh to open up an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter before Notre Dame rallied behind two touchdowns by star Golden Tate, and the Panthers held on for a 27-22 victory Saturday night that may raise more cries for Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis' ouster.

Notre Dame (6-4) trailed 27-9 with 12:44 remaining after Dion Lewis' 50-yard touchdown run, then came back before Jimmy Clausen fumbled with just over two minutes remaining.

The Irish followed up a did-it-really-happen 23-21 loss to Navy with their eighth consecutive loss to a Top 10 team - the longest streak in school history. Weis is 1-10 against ranked teams since 2006, and has the same record (35-25) as former coach Bob Davie and the same winning percentage (.583) as former coach Tyrone Willingham, both of whom were fired.

Pitt relied on big plays by Baldwin and running backs Lewis and Ray Graham to improve to 9-1 for the first time since 1982, Dan Marino's senior season, and is headed for a Dec. 5 home date against No. 5 Cincinnati that will decide the Big East Conference champion and BCS bowl representative. A Nov. 27 game at rival West Virginia won't factor into the conference race.

LOUISVILLE 10,

SYRACUSE 9

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Adam Froman hit Josh Chichester for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 1:24 remaining to lift Louisville.

The victory snapped a nine-game conference losing streak for the Cardinals (4-6, 1-4), who ended a two-year hex against the Orange (3-7, 0-5).

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT