Pitt collapse continues as UConn wins in OT
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — D.J. Hernandez escaped a furious rush and scrambled into the end zone for a 2-point conversion in the second overtime Saturday and Connecticut stunned Pittsburgh 46-45 to earn its first Big East win.
Hernandez led Connecticut (4-5, 1-3) back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit, rushing for 130 yards and passing for 164 yards and four touchdowns.
Freshman Donald Brown carried the ball 43 times for 205 yards, including a 10-yard run in the second OT that cut Pittsburgh's lead to 45-44.
Coach Randy Edsall decided to go for two and the win.
After two time-outs, Hernandez took the snap, scrambled to avoid a blitz and rolled right into the end zone.
That capped a comeback that began after Pittsburgh (6-4, 2-3) went ahead 31-17 on a 1-yard run by quarterback Tyler Palko that capped a 7-play, 62-yard drive late in the third quarter.
Pinned at their 2 with 12:10 remaining in the game, the Huskies drove 98-yards, scoring when a scrambling Hernandez found Brown in the end zone from 8-yards out.
The Huskies got the ball back with 3:14 on the clock and Hernandez went to work again, completing six passes on an 11-play, 77-yard drive, the final one to tight end Danny Murray from a yard out with 3 seconds on the clock.
Brandon Young made a diving catch in the right corner of the end zone on UConn's first overtime possession to give the Huskies the 38-31 lead.
But the Panthers came right back, scoring on a 1-yard pass from Palko to fullback Conredge Collins on fourth down.
Pitt needed just two plays in the second overtime. LaRod Stephens-Howling ran in from a yard out, after Palko connected on a 24-yard pass to Derek Kinder.
Palko was 20-25 for 234 yards and three TDs, and Stephens-Howling ran 32 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Pittsburgh tight end Steve Buches caught two first-half touchdowns.
His first, a 14-yard catch-and-run was set up by a 49-yard kickoff return by Lowell Robinson after UConn had taken an early 3-0 lead.
