Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Pittsburgh Panthers Match Player Stats On Nov 24, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 24, 2012

Pittsburgh 27, No. 19 Rutgers 6: Tino Sunseri threw for two touchdowns and Ray Graham ran for another as the host Panthers gave the Scarlet Knights their first Big East loss.

Rutgers (9-2, 5-1) still clinched at least a share of the conference title after Louisville dropped a 23-20 triple-overtime decision to UConn on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights can win it outright with a victory over the Cardinals at home in the regular-season finale on Thursday. Pittsburgh (5-6, 2-4) can become bowl eligible if it wins at South Florida on Dec. 1.

Both teams punted four times and neither converted a third down in the first quarter. Sunseri found Mike Shanahan in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard score with 13:48 to play in the second quarter. Sunseri completed five of six passes during the eight-play, 80-yard drive.

Sunseri's fumble on Rutgers' 2-yard line ended Pitt's next drive, but Graham scored on a dive from one yard out to give the Panthers a 14-0 lead with 2:17 remaining in the half. Ed Tinker grabbed Sunseri's pass from 13 yards out in the back of the end zone with seven seconds left before halftime to cap a nine-play, 55-yard drive.

Kevin Harper's 39-yard field goal in the third quarter pushed the lead to 24-0. Rutgers finally scored on Gary Nova's 11-yard pass to Brandon Coleman with 1:43 to play in the quarter, but the two-point conversion failed. Harper added a 25-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Rutgers RB Jawan Jamison went over 1,000 yards for the season in the second quarter. ... Rutgers had allowed an average of 12.5 points going into the game. The Scarlet Knights gave up a season-high 35 points against Kent State on Oct. 27. ... Tinker's TD catch was the first of his career. ... The Panthers have been to a bowl game for four straight seasons.