Rutgers 54 Pittsburgh 34

For the first time all season, Mike Teel looked like the quarterback that threw for 3,000-plus yards in 2007.

Teel let loose some bottled-up frustration on the No. 17 Pittsburgh Panthers (5-2, 2-1 in the Big East), by throwing for 361 yards and a school-record six touchdowns in a 54-34 Rutgers win at Heinz Field Saturday.

RU (3-5, 2-2 in the Big East) used an uncharacteristically-open playbook to baffle the Pittsburgh defense, as the Scarlet Knights put eight touchdowns on the board—nearly equaling their season total of nine against FBS opponents leading into the game.

Junior Kenny Britt had 5 catches for 143 yards and 3 touchdowns, while junior Tim Brown added 132 yards and 2 scores as well. Sophomore running back Kordell Young contributed with 85 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns to cap off the offensive explosion.

It was literally as if Rutgers fans were watching a different team—perhaps one that needed an influx of criticism to help them break out their shell.

Pittsburgh star sophomore running back LeSean McCoy did compile 146 yards on 26 carries for a career-high four touchdowns, but his efforts went for naught.

The turning point of the game happened with around a minute to go in the third quarter and Rutgers leading 41-31, when Pittsburgh back-up quarterback Pat Bostick was in the midst of driving the Panthers down the field.

Bostick was hit hard in the middle of his throw by senior defensive lineman Pete Tverdov and the pass was intercepted by senior linebacker Kevin Malast, who scampered 75 yards down the field to the Pittsburgh 8-yard line. Young scored on the next play.

NOTE: Rutgers’ next game is Saturday Nov. 8 in Piscataway against Syracuse