Wednesday, November 26, 2003
Larry Fitzgerald's consecutive games with a touchdown went to 17 .
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Brandon Miree was a helpless spectator as Pittsburgh rolled to a share of the Big East lead. Then he took two months worth of frustration out on Temple.
Miree ran for a career-high 188 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since September, leading No. 21 Pittsburgh to a 30-16 victory over Temple on Saturday.
"I've dreamt about this for a long time," Miree, who sustained a stress fracture in his right leg at Toledo on Sept. 20. "It's been a struggle physically, emotionally and spiritually these last two months."
At stake
The win kept the Panthers (8-3, 5-1) in contention to win at least a share of the Big East title and play in a BCS bowl. Pitt faces Miami next week in a game that could decide the Big East's BCS bowl representative.
"To play for the Big East championship is huge," coach Walt Harris said. "We've on been a long road, climbing back. We're just thankful this is our opportunity."
Temple (1-10, 0-6) nearly spoiled that chance, rallying from a 21-3 halftime deficit.
Walter Washington threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Phil Goodman in the third quarter, then scrambled for a 14-yard score with 7:14 remaining in the fourth. Washington's two-point conversion pass was incomplete.
Pittsburgh had fourth-and-1 with just over three minutes remaining when Miree took a pitch right for 2 yards. Rod Rutherford then threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald later in the drive to seal the win.
"We made some risky decisions, but that last drive was how I feel we can play," Harris said.
Pittsburgh added a safety when Washington's fumble rolled out of the end zone.
Apparently healed
Miree, who rushed for 248 yards in the first three games, never seemed bothered by the injury.
On Pittsburgh's second drive, Miree carried four straight times for 30 yards, and he finished with 152 yards on 16 carries in the first half.
Those numbers proved how much Pittsburgh missed him. The Panthers hadn't had a running back gain even 60 yards in five of their last seven games and had only four rushing touchdowns from their running backs since Miree was hurt.
The Panthers had only 10 yards rushing last week in a 22-points loss at West Virginia. They rushed for 253 yards against the Owls.
"It's all about the commitment to running the ball," Miree said. "We got outplayed last week, but the coaches wanted to run. Coach Harris instilled in us a commitment to run the ball and that's what made the difference."
Miree wasted little time making a difference, scoring twice in the first quarter.
Miree ran straight up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown run, then bounced off a couple of defenders as he broke left for a 2-yard run and a 14-0 lead.
Shoeless
Miree added a 76-yard run late in the second quarter -- without his left shoe -- after making a couple of Owls' defenders badly miss near the line. Then Rutherford connected with Fitzgerald from 7-yards out on a slant for his NCAA-best 20th touchdown reception and a 21-3 lead.
Fitzgerald, the nation's leading receiver, finished with seven catches for 102 yards and extended his NCAA record to consecutive games with a touchdown to 17.