big east Saturday’s games

Pittsburgh 20, Louisville 3

PITTSBURGH

Louisville threw when Pitt expected the run, and ran when the Panthers began anticipating the pass. The Cardinals’ offense lined up in empty sets, the wildcat formation and pro-set alignments, yet nothing worked.

Jabaal Sheard wouldn’t allow it. Sheard forced a fumble that led to a touchdown while leading a Pitt defense that never allowed Louisville’s ineffective offense to generate any momentum, and the Panthers won 20-3 Saturday to stay unbeaten in the Big East. Ray Graham and Dion Lewis ran for scores in the second half after Pittsburgh (5-3, 3-0) settled for a 6-3 halftime lead on Dan Hutchins field goals of 42 and 26 yards.

Sheard, double-teamed at times, forced two fumbles and had two sacks and three tackles for losses to repeatedly frustrate a Cardinals offense that has scored one touchdown in 10 quarters. Going into the season, Sheard was supposed to be Pitt’s second best defensive end. With 2009 Big East co-defensive player of the year Greg Romeus out nearly all season with a bad back, Sheard has emerged as a game-changing player.

Syracuse 31, Cincinnati 7

CINCINNATI

Ryan Nassib threw a pair of touchdown passes, taking advantage of Cincinnati’s numerous turnovers, and Syracuse extended its best start in nine years. The Orange (6-2, 3-1) are done with their days at the bottom of the league, where they’ve languished the last five years. Syracuse has made its quantum leap on the strength of a blitzing defense that creates havoc for quarterbacks and ranks 16th nationally in yards allowed. It forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted backup Chazz Anderson, setting up 17 points. Cincinnati (3-5, 1-2) imploded without quarterback Zach Collaros, who bruised his left knee during a loss to South Florida that ended the Bearcats’ streak of 13 straight conference wins. Anderson, making his first start in two years, botched a handoff and threw an interception at the Syracuse 3-yard line.

Associated Press