Nov. 7, 2009

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PITTSBURGH -

Dion Lewis rushed for 110 yards, Dorin Dickerson added 118 yards receiving and No. 14 Pitt defeated Syracuse, 37-10, at Heinz Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers (8-1, 5-0 Big East) had standout performances offensively from Dickerson, Lewis and quarterback Bill Stull, who was 16-of-23 passing for 225 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, safety Jarred Holley paced Pitt with nine tackles and an interception, while linebacker Greg Williams returned an interception 51 yards for a touchdown. Defensive end Greg Romeus had three tackles and an interception.

"I knew this was going to be a challenge for us," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "I thought we had a great week of preparation during the bye week and the kids bought in. If our players didn't buy in and weren't mentally ready for a four-quarter fight and best effort from Syracuse, it would have been easy to let one mistake compound into two or three."

Syracuse (3-6, 0-4) started the scoring with a field goal, but Pitt's defense clamped down from there and didn't allow another score until 1:03 remained in the fourth quarter. The Panthers scored 37 points during that span.

"Our offensive line does a great job," Lewis said. "Those guys work hard all the time. They deserve the credit. They just keep pounding and blocking guys, clearing the way. I'm just staying patient, letting the game come to me."

That ended up paying off for Pitt.

After falling behind 3-0, the Panthers quickly tied the score during their first possession as junior Dan Hutchins knocked through a 19-yard field goal. Hutchins added a 45-yarder in the second quarter to put Pitt ahead, 6-3. Pitt didn't look back after that. Williams, who joined Pitt as a running back prospect, intercepted a tipped pass later in the quarter at the 49-yard line and took it 51 yards for the score. It was the second defensive touchdown of the season for Williams, who also scored on a 50-yard fumble recovery in a win against Buffalo. The defense held from there, and Pitt led at the half, 13-3.

"We had a great week of practice, knowing their schemes," Holley said. "We practice really hard, and I think that was a big part today. I think we came ready to play."

The Panthers picked up their offense as the second half began. Stull connected with Dickerson on the first play of the drive for a first down before Lewis caught a screen pass and darted down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain. The nation's fourth-leading rusher entering the contest, Lewis then scored to give Pitt a 20-7 lead.

Midway through the third quarter, sophomore receiver Jonathan Baldwin took a reverse 61 yards to the Syracuse 14. Stull hit Dickerson one play later in the back-right corner of the end zone, and Hutchins' extra point gave Pitt a 27-3 lead.

After a 33-yard field goal from Hutchins, receiver Cedric McGee scored on a 29-yard reverse to finish the scoring for Pitt. It was the first touchdown of his career.

"He's one of our outstanding guys here that has been a program guy," Wannstedt said of McGee. "He's been here and he's stuck with the program. It's great to see players like that have success."

The Panthers, who scored on all four of their red zone attempts, outrushed the Orange by 133 yards and had outgained them by 196. Defensively, Pitt had six sacks on the day.

Dickerson's touchdown catch in the third quarter gave him 10 for the year, a Pitt tight end record previously held by Kris Wilson, who had nine touchdowns in 2003. Dickerson's 118 yards marked a career high for the senior. Lewis' third-quarter score, gave him 12 rushing touchdowns on the season and 13 total TDs. Lewis' 78 total points on the season ties him for second in Pitt freshman history with the legendary Tony Dorsett. He trails only LeSean McCoy, who had 90 in 2007.

The Panthers next face Notre Dame on Saturday night at Heinz Field. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. It will be a national ABC telecast.