NCAA Game Summary - Pittsburgh at Syracuse

Syracuse, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Isaac Bennett scored on a five-yard run at the end of the third quarter and the subsequent PAT by Chris Blewitt proved to be the difference as the Pittsburgh Panthers slipped by Syracuse, 17-16, in ACC action at the Carrier Dome.

Bennett's 28 net rushing yards on 11 carries were the most by any Pittsburgh (6-5, 3-4 ACC) ball carrier as the team finished with just 21 yards total on 27 attempts. Quarterback Tom Savage converted 28-of-41 passes for 218 yards and a score, was sacked three times and picked off once as the Panthers notched their second win in the last three outings.

The Orange (5-6, 3-4) were paced by Terrel Hunt who hit on 18-of-28 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown, while Jerome Smith picked up a game-high 88 yards and scored once on 17 rushing attempts as the team suffered a second straight setback.

Syracuse got off to an early lead when Smith finished off a four-play, 67-yard drive with a 36-yard TD run, but the PAT was blocked and that eventually proved to be crucial even though it took place less than three minutes into the meeting.

The Panthers moved ahead in the second when Blewitt knocked through a 43-yard field goal and Savage hit Manasseh Garner with a seven-yard TD pass at the 3:06 mark.

However, before the half could come to a close, Ryan Norton connected on a 41- yard field goal for the Orange to draw within a point at 10-9.

Syracuse again assumed the lead in the third as Hunt combined with Alvin Cornelius on a 42-yard TD, and this time Norton made good on the PAT to give the hosts a 16-10 edge.

Pittsburgh put together a nine-play, 88-yard drive that took up more than three minutes at the end of the third, culminating with the rushing score by Bennett.

The Panthers grabbed the win despite generating just 239 yards of total offense on the day.