The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's Late Touchdown Downs Blazers
9/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 14, 2002
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Rod Rutherford threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Roosevelt Bynes with 5:18 left as Pittsburgh held on to beat UAB 26-20 Saturday night.
The game was tied at 20 when Rutherford led the Panthers (2-1) on an 86-yard, game-winning drive.
After Bynes' touchdown catch, the Panthers' J.B. Gibboney missed the extra point, leaving UAB (1-2) with a chance to win. But Pittsburgh's defense held down the stretch. UAB began from its own 32 with 2:32 left, but on the first play, Blazers quarterback Thomas Cox fumbled while trying to throw under pressure.
Pittsburgh's Lewis Moore recovered, and the Panthers ran out the clock. Rutherford gained 15 yards on 4th-and-11 to clinch the victory.
"That's a tough loss," said UAB head coach Watson Brown. "I'm very proud of our players. The effort has been fantastic from this team, but we're still making too many mistakes at critical times.
"But you have to give Pittsburgh credit. When the score was 20-20, their offense was able to make plays right when they had to make them. We are just not making enough plays to beat a team of that caliber yet. The tough part for me is it was such an unbelievable effort that we gave. "
Rutherford finished with two touchdown passes and one TD run to lead Pitt. Brandon Miree, a transfer from Alabama, gained 97 yards on 32 carries in his first start for the Panthers.
Pittsburgh finished with 424 yards in total offense, while UAB had 232.
The Blazers were held to just 94 yards passing as Cox completed 10-of-23 passes for 94 yards. UAB had some success on the ground, rushing for 138 yards only 26 carries (5.3 per attempt). Sophomore Kendal Gibson ran for a career-best 72 yards on nine carries.
Pittsburgh led 17-13 at halftime, but the Blazers opened the second half with a 78-yard, six-play scoring drive capped by Theron Dudley's 7-yard run.
The lead was short-lived. Gibboney kicked a 19-yard field goal with 5:57 in the third quarter to tie the game.
The Blazers got off to a fast start. White blocked a punt after Pittsburgh's opening series, and Jhun Cook returned it 15 yards for a touchdown, giving UAB a 7-0 lead.
