Published: September 28, 2008 12:15 am      

LaRod leads Pitt to victory

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — LaRod Stephens-Howling loves playing on the Carrier Dome’s turf.

The Greater Johnstown graduate turned in a 71-yard, two-touchdown performance to help the Pitt beat Syracuse 34-24 in the Big East Conference opener for each team.

Pitt started slow, but a late surge in the running game, a career-high four field goals from Conor Lee, and a big defensive play late in the game made the difference.

Lee’s four field goals tied a school record.

LeSean McCoy and Stephens-Howling combined for 220 yards on the ground, and the Panthers rushed for 241 yards as a team.

It was Pitt’s highest rushing total of the year.

For Stephens-Howling, there’s just something about Syracuse.

Two years ago at the Carrier Dome, he ran for 221 yards and a touchdown in 21-11 win. On Saturday he was just as important to Pitt’s success offensively and defensively.

After the game, Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt gave Stephens-Howling the game ball.

“I normally don’t award game balls in the locker room until I look at the film,” Wannstedt said. “But the guy made tackles on kickoffs, he made tackles on punts, and, obviously, he scored two touchdowns.”

Stephens-Howling said it was an honor to get the game ball.

“One of the things I talked about before the season was taking advantage of every opportunity you get to do something to help the team win,” he said.

McCoy also enjoyed his best game of the season. The sophomore carried 28 times 149 yards, marking the first time this year he’s topped 100 yards. McCoy also broke his longest run of the year, a 34-yarder off the right side.

“It felt good, especially for me,” he said. “(For) our offense to come out and just pound the ball, it takes a lot of guts. That’s mentally, and physically, tough for an offense to go out and do that.”

Syracuse controlled the ground game early. Curtis Brinkley went over the 100-yard mark early in the third quarter, but finished with only 119 yards. Pitt had a 160-21 edge in second-half rushing yards.

After Lee’s first field goal made it 3-0, Mike Holmes took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give Syracuse a 7-3 lead. The Orange didn’t lose the lead until the fourth quarter.

That’s when Pitt converted a fourth-down play at is 32-yard line on Bill Stull’s quarterback keeper, and McCoy broke his 34-yard run on the next down. A 20-yard run by Stephens-Howling took it to the Syracuse 9. On first-and-goal, Stephens-Howling ran up the middle, eluded a tackle, and plowed his way into the end zone. Pitt converted the two-point conversion on a fade to Jonathan Baldwin to tie it at 24.

Pitt forced a punt on Syracuse’s next possession that led to Lee’s third field goal which gave the Panthers a 27-24 lead.

The Panthers’ defense made an even bigger impact on the Orange’s next possession, Greg Romeus broke through the edge and forced Syracuse quarterback Cameron Dantley to fumble. Jabaal Sheard recovered as the Pitt defense stepped up late in the game to seal the win for a second straight week.

“I think the defense knows we need to step up at the end of the game,” Romeus said. “We put it on our shoulders. They were making big plays all game, and everybody on our defense made big plays at the end.”

Pitt linebacker Scott McKillop agreed.

“We still need to make more plays,” he said. “We only caused one turnover (Saturday). To be a great defense we have to cause more turnovers, but that’s two consecutive games where our front four came up real big. The front four did a good job (Saturday).”

Stephens-Howling’s second touchdown capped the scoring.

Pitt now prepares to play South Florida on Thursday, and Wannstedt thinks Saturday’s win will help.

“I’ve been around these short weeks,” he said. “The one thing that helps you more than anything else is what you did the week before. If you do well the week before guys aren’t as sore guys are into it, guys are excited about playing again. The win will definitely give us a chance to prepare the best we can in three days.”