Virginia Tech Hokies vs Pittsburgh Panthers Match Player Stats On Sep 15, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 15, 2012

Pittsburgh 35, No. 13 Virginia Tech 17: Tino Sunseri tossed three touchdown passes and Ray Graham ran for two scores and caught another as the host Panthers shocked the Hokies and gave first-year coach Paul Chryst his first victory.

Highly touted freshman Rushel Shell had 157 rushing yards for Pittsburgh (1-2), which dealt future ACC Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech (2-1) its first true road loss since October 2009 to snap the nation's longest active streak at 13 wins.

The Panthers intercepted Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas three times and recovered a fumble all in the first half, and piled up 305 yards en route to a stunning 21-3 halftime lead. Pitt had not forced a turnover in losses to Youngstown State – their first-ever FCS defeat – and Cincinnati.

After not finding the end zone until the final minute of last Thursday's 34-10 loss to the Bearcats, Pitt marched 75 yards on just six plays of their opening possession to jump on the Hokies, 7-0, capped by Graham's 12-yard touchdown dash.

The Hokies' trademark special teams produced their initial touchdown, as Kyshoen Jarrett returned a Matt Yoklic punt 94 yards early in the third quarter to make it 21-10. But the Panthers quelled the momentum with a fourth-down stop on Virginia Tech's next drive, and immediately went 65 yards the other way for a 28-10 lead on Graham's 18-yard touchdown reception.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Thomas had thrown four touchdown passes without an interception in Virginia Tech's previous two games this season. He finished with 265 passing yards, while Sunseri had 283. … Graham added his second score of the first half on a 5-yard run, two plays after a fumble recovery, to push the Panthers' margin to 21-0 with 13:28 to go before halftime. … Virginia Tech still leads the series, 7-5, but the Panthers have now won four straight, including their last previous meeting in 2003.