SportsDirect Inc. staff
Oct 19, 2013
Pittsburgh 35, Old Dominion 24: Isaac Bennett rushed for a career-high 240 yards on 30 carries and three second-quarter touchdowns to lead the host Panthers to the non-conference victory.
Tom Savage threw a touchdown pass and scored on a 5-yard run for the Panthers (4-2), who are off to their best start since 2009.
Old Dominion, searching for its first win against an FBS school, was led by reigning FCS Player of the Year Taylor Heinicke, who threw for 312 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Heinicke was 31-for-52, including scoring passes to Blair Roberts and Marquel Thomas.
The Monarchs (4-3) led 10-0 after the first quarter before Pitt scored touchdowns the next four times it had the ball. Savage capped one scoring drive with a 21-yard pass to Manasseh Garner just two plays after what would have been Bennett's fourth touchdown scamper was negated by a holding penalty.
Old Dominion cut the deficit to 28-24 on a 17-yard run by Antonio Vaughan but Savage, who was 11-for-18 for 104 yards, capped the scoring by breaking two tackles on the way to the end zone with 13:19 left. The Panthers' defense slammed the door afterward, picking off Heinicke late in the contest.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Old Dominion recovered an onside kick after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter. ... Larry Pinkard had nine catches for 83 yards for Old Dominion. ...Tony Dorsett holds the all-time single-game rushing record for Pitt, gaining 303 yards against Notre Dame in 1975.