Virginia Tech Hokies vs Pittsburgh Panthers Match Player Stats On Sep 15, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 15, 2012

Pittsburgh 35, No. 13 Virginia Tech 17: Tino Sunseri tossed three touchdown passes and Ray Graham ran for two scores and caught another as the host Panthers shocked the Hokies and gave first-year coach Paul Chryst his first victory.

Highly touted freshman Rushel Shell had 157 rushing yards for Pittsburgh (1-2), which dealt future ACC Coastal Division rival Virginia Tech (2-1) its first true road loss since October 2009 to snap the nation's longest active streak at 13 wins.

The Panthers intercepted Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas three times and recovered a fumble all in the first half, and piled up 305 yards en route to a stunning 21-3 halftime lead. Pitt had not forced a turnover in losses to Youngstown State จC their first-ever FCS defeat จC and Cincinnati.

After not finding the end zone until the final minute of last Thursday's 34-10 loss to the Bearcats, Pitt marched 75 yards on just six plays of their opening possession to jump on the Hokies, 7-0, capped by Graham's 12-yard touchdown dash.

The Hokies' trademark special teams produced their initial touchdown, as Kyshoen Jarrett returned a Matt Yoklic punt 94 yards early in the third quarter to make it 21-10. But the Panthers quelled the momentum with a fourth-down stop on Virginia Tech's next drive, and immediately went 65 yards the other way for a 28-10 lead on Graham's 18-yard touchdown reception.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Thomas had thrown four touchdown passes without an interception in Virginia Tech's previous two games this season. He finished with 265 passing yards, while Sunseri had 283. กญ Graham added his second score of the first half on a 5-yard run, two plays after a fumble recovery, to push the Panthers' margin to 21-0 with 13:28 to go before halftime. กญ Virginia Tech still leads the series, 7-5, but the Panthers have now won four straight, including their last previous meeting in 2003.