Nov. 14, 2005
Pitt senior cornerback Bernard "Josh" Lay has been named the Big East Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the Panthers' 24-0 victory over Connecticut this past Saturday.
Lay (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa/Valley Forge Military Academy) made a critical play in the Connecticut victory when he returned a blocked field goal 71 yards for a touchdown. The return gave Pitt a 14-0 lead and game-changing momentum in the second quarter.
Lay also had an interception in the end zone, six tackles and a four-yard tackle for loss against Connecticut. The interception helped ice the victory and give Pitt its second shutout of the year.
The blocked field goal return for a touchdown was Pitt's first since the 1994 season. Lay teamed up on the play with fellow cornerback and Aliquippa High graduate Darrelle Revis, who broke through the Huskies' protection to block the kick.
It was the third career touchdown for Lay, who also has a 20-yard fumble return (Syracuse, 2003) and an 82-yard interception return (Rutgers, 2004) to his credit. On the season, Lay has 25 tackles and a team-high 13 passes defended (11 breakups and two interceptions). He ranks 12th nationally with an average of 1.30 passes defended per game.
With the win over Connecticut, the Panthers have now won four of their last five games to maintain their bowl aspirations. Pitt is gunning for its sixth-consecutive postseason berth.
Following an open date this week, the Panthers (5-5, 4-2 Big East) will play rival West Virginia (8-1, 5-0) in Morgantown on Thanksgiving night (Nov. 24). The game will be nationally televised by ESPN and kick off at 8 p.m.
