Pitt finally gets the best of Rutgers, 24-17

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Freshman Dion Lewis ran for 180 yards and two touchdowns and Pittsburgh ended four years of frustration against Rutgers with a 24-17 victory on Friday night.

Lewis scored on runs of 1 and 58 yards and Bill Stull threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dorin Dickerson as the Panthers (6-1, 3-0 Big East) beat Rutgers (4-2, 0-2) for the first time since 2004.

Dan Hutchins added a career-long 45-yard field goal and the Panthers held Rutgers to a season-low 38 yards rushing in getting off to their best conference start since 2003.

Mohamed Sanu scored on an 11-yard run, Tom Savage threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown and San San Te kicked a 23-yard field goal for the Scarlet Knights.

Pittsburgh spotted Rutgers an early 7-0 lead when a Scarlet Knights punt hit off Panthers defensive back Dom DeCicco and was recovered at the 11. Sanu, a wide receiver playing a wildcat quarterback, scored on the next play from scrimmage.

A 54-yard kickoff return by Ray Graham on the ensuring kickoff set up Pittsburgh at the Rutgers 40.

Stull (16 of 24 for 153 yards) ended the drive with his pass to Dickerson.

DeCicco made up for his error by intercepting a Savage pass to give Pittsburgh the ball at the Scarlet Knights 49 early in the second quarter.

Hutchins gave the Panthers a 10-7 lead with his 45-yarder.

Lewis stretched the lead to 17-7 with his short TD run late in the second quarter.

Te closed the gap to 24-10 on the final play of the half.