September 7, 2002
PITTSBURGH, Pa.-- Texas A&M needed two quarterbacks and two long completions to Terrence Murphy to open up a two-touchdown lead, and the No. 20 Aggies then held on with the help of a missed extra point to edge Pittsburgh 14-12 Saturday.
Rod Rutherford struggled badly for three quarters before driving Pitt to two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. But the missed conversion forced the Panthers to go for the 2-pointer after Rutherford's 2-yard TD pass to Kris Wilson with 2:02 remaining, and Rutherford's throw intended for freshman Larry Fitzgerald was wide.
Derek Farmer scored twice on short-range runs as the Aggies (2-0) had just enough offense to win, but not enough to prevent what is fast becoming an early-season quarterback controversy.
Mark Farris, a three-year starter fewer than 100 yards away from 5,000 yards passing in his career, gave way to Dustin Long late in an ineffective first half, then never returned even as Long likewise struggled to get anything going.
Farris set up a 1-yard scoring run by Farmer in the second quarter with a 35-yard completion to Murphy despite badly underthrowing the pass, and Long hit Murphy for 37 and 16 yards on successive plays before Farmer's 3-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
Rutherford had an even more miserable first half than Farris, throwing for only 26 yards, until finally getting into a rhythm. Making only his second college start, he went 7-for-7 during an 84-yard drive ended by his own 1-yard sneak early in the fourth quarter.
But, summing up the Panthers' offensive frustrations, J.B. Gibboney twice kicked the extra point, only to have both conversions waved off by illegal shift penalties. Gibboney then missed his third try, by now a 30-yard attempt - a miss that later proved important.
After Rutherford was intercepted by Jaxson Appel on Pitt's next possession, Texas A&M was driving for an apparent insurance score when Joe Weber - making his only carry - was stacked up by Torrie Cox and Tez Morris on fourth-and-1 and Pitt (1-1) took over.
Rutherford, suddenly playing with the confidence and poise he lacked earlier in the game, immediately hit Lamar Slade for 13 yards and Brandon Miree ran for 16 yards and a first down on a 74-drive scoring drive aided by a pass interference penalty to the A&M 2 on Aggies star cornerback Sammy Davis.
Wilson, the tight end, then tiptoed with the ball along the back line of the end zone without stepping out of bounds on his scoring catch.
Pitt got the ball back one more time after Rutherford threw incomplete on the 2-point conversion try, but he fumbled on third-and-17 from his own 29 with 11 seconds left and Randall Webb recovered for A&M.
Rutherford, who threw for only 26 yards in the first half, finished 20-of-32 for 169 yards despite being sacked seven times. Long was 9-of-18 for 119 yards and Farris was 5-of-13 for 80 yards, making him 18-of-45 in two games.
A&M outgained Pitt 281-232 after holding a substantial 154-34 edge at halftime.
The loss was Pitt's first since a five-game losing streak early last season and ended a seven-game winning streak that stretched over two seasons.
TEXAS A&M POSTGAME NOTES