The Buccaneer football team dropped its season opener 31-0 to the University of Pittsburgh at Heinz Field last Saturday night.
The Panthers’ David Priestley scored on an 85-yard run that was the longest ever by a Pittsburgh quarterback and the Panthers withstood the injury loss of star wide receiver Antonio Bryant.
Bryant, last year’s Biletnikoff Award winner as college football’s top receiver, left with a sprained left ankle in the first quarter and did not return. He was undercut at the East Tennessee State 5 on what would have been a 60-yard punt return, but was reduced to a 10-yarder by a clipping penalty.
Bryant, a junior, had 68 catches, 11 touchdowns and a nation’s best 130.2 yards receiving per game average last season while becoming a first-team All-America selection, Pitt’s first since 1985.
Without Bryant, Pitt’s offense struggled for the middle two quarters in the first college game in Heinz Field after quarterbacks Priestley and Rod Rutherford each had scoring runs in the first quarter.
Priestley finally got the offense going again, finding R.J. English on a 12-yard scoring pass in the third quarter. Raymond Kirkley, a freshman playing his first game, had a short touchdown run in the fourth quarter as Pittsburgh (1-0) won its fifth straight season opener under coach Walt Harris.
Priestley, who almost never carries the ball, was nearly 30 yards downfield before the Bucs realized he had the ball, and he held the ball over his head for the final 10 yards of the sixth longest running play in Pittsburgh history.
Later in the period, East Tennessee punter Aaron Bass couldn’t handle a low snap from center deep in his own territory and was tackled at the 3, setting up Rutherford’s 3-yard scoring run three plays later.
East Tennessee State missed its best chance to score in the second quarter.
Matt Wilhjelm, under a heavy pass rush all night, found Cecil Moore on a 49-yard completion to the Pittsburgh 11. But the Bucs were unable to get the ball into the endzone and had to settle for a field goal attempt by Con Chellis.
But Chellis’ 23-yard attempt went wide left and that would be the Bucs’ best opportunity of the night to get on the scoreboard.
Bucs’ starting quarterback Matt Wilhjelm completed eight of 18 passess for 101-yards with one interception, despite being sacked seven times.
Andrew Nuckolls also had a good day for the Bucs, with six carries for 35-yards and an average of 5.3-yards-per-carry.
Moore, whose longest catch on the night was the 49-yard pass from Wilhjelm, had 3 catches for 57-yards.
Scott Brumet led the defense with eight tackles, three solo and five unassisted. The Bucs’ defensive unit held Pittsburgh scoreless in the second quarter, to trail at the half 14-0.
TheBucs led in time of possession, having the football for 34:07 compared to the Panthers 25:53.
The Bucs will be back in action for their home opener on Sept. 8 against Gardner-Webb at Memorial Center with the kickoff set for 6 p.m.

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