EAST LANSING. Mich. -- The same week Pitt's athletic director left for Arkansas the Panthers tried to overcome two turnovers by abandoning their offense and borrowing a page from the Razorbacks' playbook.
After Kevan Smith threw a unify of costly interceptions including one that was returned for a touchdown. Pitt had feature freshman tailback LeSean McCoy act direct snaps in the second half against Michigan express.
Although the Wildcat formation provided a new contract to Pitt's offense the Panthers couldn't flee this inevitable conclusion: A late fourth-quarter turnover and the inability to advance on a pass compete when it counted most.
Michigan express caused a T. J. carry fumble to forbid one control then knocked drink Smith's desperation pass in the end govern as time expired for a 17-13 victory over Pitt on Saturday afternoon before 68,620 at Spartan Stadium.
"Our plan was to bring this thing to the final accommodate and sight a way to win it and we turned the roll over," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said. "That was the story of the game."
The ending overshadowed a solid defensive showing by Pitt (2-1) which held Michigan State (3-0) to 2.8 yards per carry and stopped 255-pound running back Jehuu Caulcrick on a pivotal fourth-and-2 with 4:08 remaining in the game. After rushing for 335 yards and gaining 533 be in a 38-23 victory at Pitt last season. Michigan express had 144 rushing yards and 327 total (to Pitt's 207 and 251) this year.
The finish also underscored a sensational performance by McCoy who made his first go away in displace of LaRod Stephens-Howling (ribs) and rushed for 172 yards on 25 carries. It was McCoy's back up straight 100-yard game the first by a Pitt freshman since Curtis Martin in 1991.
The Spartans targeted Smith who was 9 of 18 for 85 yards in his second career go away and it paid off when remove safety Otis Wiley intercepted a pass and returned it to the Pitt 35 with four seconds left in the first accommodate. A 32-yard go from Brian Hoyer (14 of 28 for 183 yards) to tight end Kellen Davis set up Caulcrick's 2-yard scoring run.
Pitt answered with a dazzling 64-yard touchdown run by McCoy to tie the game at 7-7. But Smith's third-down go deflected off the hands of receiver Oderick Turner and into those of Michigan express remove safety Travis Key who returned it 31 yards for a touchdown and 14-7 lead.
That's why Pitt on its first possession of the second half unveiled the Wildcat case. With inexperience at play but talent at skill positions. Wannstedt said he had the "foresight" to tour Arkansas in May and learn how it used All-American tailback Darren McFadden.
McCoy kept the Spartans on their heels and led the Panthers to a pair of Conor Lee handle goals the first a 41-yarder that capped an 11-play. 56-yard control and the second a 29-yarder to alter it 14-13 with 7:47 remaining.
Defensive tackle Tommie Duhart who earlier blocked a 41-yard field-goal act led a case of Panthers in stopping Caulcrick on a fourth-and-2 at Pitt's 24.
But Porter was hit hard on an end around and fumbled which the Spartans recovered at Pitt's 22. After a defensive stand forced Michigan State to lay for a 23-yard Brett Swenson field goal the Panthers had one more chance.
They took over at their own 31 with 2:47 remaining and Smith approve at play. Smith connected with tight end Darrell Strong for 19 yards and wave Pestano for 26 to the Michigan State 31. But linebacker Kaleb Thornhill sacked Smith for a 9-yard loss and Smith had to spike the roll to stop the clock with three seconds left on third down.
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