Pittsburgh Panthers vs. Navy Midshipmen Recap

If Bill Stull keeps playing like this, the promise and potential of Pittsburgh football will be fulfilled.

One week after lighting up Buffalo's secondary, Stull starred once again for head coach Dave Wannstedt, as the Panthers popped a solid and credible opponent from Navy, 27-14, on an evening marked by efficiency at Heinz Field. A program that's had terrific running backs over the past few years--and which has found, in Dion Lewis, a pretty fair (though incomplete) replacement for LeSean McCoy--is beginning to receive the consistent quarterback play that will make the sons of the Steel City an upper-tier program.

Lewis unsurprisingly rushed for 79 yards on 23 carries--not spectacular, but certainly steady at roughly 3.5 yards a carry--as the Panthers continued to pose a ground game that will earn the respect of opposing defenses. But while ball-carrying quality has become a staple for Pitt, quarterbacking hasn't been as easy to come by in the Wannstedt era. Now, Stull is stepping up to ensure that the Panthers can pulverize the opposition with two-fisted totality.

Stull once again kept his interception tally clean on Saturday, while hitting 17-of-24 passes for 245 yards and one touchdown. Against a Navy offense that loves to control the ball, it was important for Stull to avoid ceding extra possessions to the Midshipmen. But not only did Stull avoid the proverbial "big mistake"; the senior, a born-and-bred Pittsburgher, lit up Navy's secondary and allowed the home team to keep an above average Naval Academy defense off balance for most of the contest.

A big reason why Pitt fans have been so upset with Stull is that the Panthers' running game should open up the passing game, thereby allowing a quarterback to pick up large chunks of real estate. When Pitt failed to make the most of LeSean McCoy in Stull's junior year, especially in that infamous shutout loss to Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, the Panther Nation wondered loud and long if Stull would ever measure up. Now, after a second straight stellar outing under center, Stull is showing every sign of becoming the football-flinging field general Wannstedt hoped he would become.

There are still nine games--including the entirety of the Big East season--still to be played. If this version of Bill Stull is present for the duration, expect Pitt to challenge streaking Cincinnati for Big East bragging rights, and the BCS bowl bid that will flow from it.

> Find a great selection of Pitt Panthers merchandise and more online along with Big East football gear from Big East Fans partner sites.

By Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer