Flag Day For Bulls

Posted Oct 24, 2009 by Joey Johnston

Updated Oct 24, 2009 at 12:43 PM

PITTSBURGH—We are one quarter into the game at Heinz Field and the No. 20-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers have a 7-0 lead against the University of South Florida Bulls.

USF has inflicted some of the damage on itself with five first-quarter penalties for 20 yards.

It began on USF’s opening kickoff return with a block-in-the-back call. It continued on Pittsburgh’s 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive with a pair of offsides calls (only one was accepted). Then it was a chop-block call on USF’s Jacob Sims that negated Jamar Taylor’s 19-yard run into Panther territory.

The Bulls are doing a nice job containing Pittsburgh freshman running back Dion Lewis (seven carries, 21 yards), who came in as the nation’s third-leading rusher. But between the penalties—and nice work by Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull (7-for-7 for 74 yards, one touchdown)—the Bulls are back on their heels in this one.

Again, it’s Pittsburgh 7, USF 0 after one quarter of play.