By Staff
NOTRE DAME Ind. – Conor Lee kicked five field goals, including the game-winner in the fourth overtime as Pittsburgh defeated Notre Dame 36-33 Saturday night.
In the longest game in Notre Dame Stadium history, Lee was perfect, while much maligned Fighting Irish kicker Brandon Walker missed on his final attempt from 38-yards out.
The victory gave the Panthers a 6-2 records and made Pittsburgh bowl eligible, while Notre Dame dropped to 5-3 and will have to wait at least one more game before becoming eligible for a bowl game.
The loss may have also ended any hope the Fighting Irish have of earning a Bowl Championship Series bid.
Notre Dame all but handed Pittsburgh the victory.
The Fighting Irish scored 14 second quarter points to open up a 17-3 halftime lead on the Panthers.
Michael Floyd caught a pair of Jimmy Clausen touchdown passes in the second quarter, while Walker connected on a 39-yard field goal in the opening 15 minutes.
Lee's 35-yard field goal tied the game at 3-3 after one period of play before Floyd hauled in scoring strikes of 18- and 4-yards.
Pittsburgh cut the Notre Dame lead to 17-10 in the third quarter as LaRod Stephens scored on a 4-yard run for the only points of the period.
LeSean McCoy tied the score at 17-17 with 11:03 to play in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard run, however, the Fighting Irish came right back and drove 75 yards in 12 plays to reclaim the lead on a 6-yard pass reception from Clausen to Golden Tate.
But that lead wouldn't stand up either.
Jonathan Baldwin capped a 70-yard, eight-play drive for the Panthers with a 10-yard pass reception from Pat Bostick.
From there it was turned over to the place kickers as neither team could dent the end zone in overtime.
Walker connected on field goals of 22-, 26- and 48-yards.
Lee hit from 22-, 32-, 26- and 22-yards.
"I was just trying to take it one kick at a time," Lee said. "I wasn't even thinking what's going to happen. I kicked one in regulation, and I ended up kicking four in overtime. In football you don't know what's going to happen so I just tried to stay as level-headed as possible."
Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis didn't feel much like reflecting on the game, but wanted to look ahead to getting his team ready for the road trip to Boston College on Saturday.
"Right now you're not worrying about closing out the game," he said. "You're worrying about the psyche of the team. That's more important than the ability to close it out right now.
"I think the next 24 to 48 hours, you know, it's a trying time when you come off a disheartening loss. You got to bounce right back. Get treatment tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday morning come in and watch the tape, move on to Boston College. I think more than closing the game, I'm just worried about getting their psyche right for this week," he added.
The Fighting Irish finished with 386 yards in total offense compared to 346 for the Panthers.
Clausen was 23-of-44 for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Armando Allen finished with 73 yards on 16 carries.
McCoy had 169 yards on 32 carries for the Panthers, while Bostick, the back-up quarterback for Pittsburgh, was 15-of-30 for 168 yards and three interceptions.
Raeshone McNeil picked off a pair of passes for the Fighting Irish and David Bruton the other. McNeil also recovered a fumble for Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish and Boston College will play on ESPN Saturday night at 8 p.m.
Pittsburgh 3 0 7 14 12 3 3 3 3 – 36
Notre Dame 3 14 0 7 9 3 3 3 0 – 33
ND – Walker, Brandon 39 field goal
PITT – Lee, Conor 35 field goal
ND – Floyd, Michael 18 pass from Clausen, Jimmy (Walker kick)
ND – Floyd 4 pass from Clausen (Walker kick)
PITT – Stephens, LaRod 4 run (Lee kick)
PITT – McCoy, LeSean 1 yd run (Lee kick)
ND – Tate, Golden 6 pass from Clausen (Walker kick)
PITT – Baldwin, Jonathan 10 pass from Bostick, Pat (Lee kick)
PITT – Lee 22 field goal
ND – Walker 22 field goal
ND – Walker 26 field goal
PITT – Lee 32 field goal
PITT – Lee 26 field goal
ND – Walker 48 field goal
PITT – Lee 22 field goal