Brandon Walker’s left foot kept providing second chances, but it was the leg of Pittsburgh’s Connor Lee that had the final say.
Lee’s fifth field goal in as many tries, a 22-yarder in the fourth overtime period, ended the longest game in Notre Dame Stadium history as the visiting Panthers rallied for a 36-33 victory.
Walker connected on four kicks himself, including a 48-yarder in the third extra period, but missed wide left on his final try of the evening to set the table for Lee’s heroics. The Panthers had forced extra time on a 10-yard scoring pass from Pat Bostick to Jonathan Baldwin with 2:22 left in regulation.
After a slow start, LeSean McCoy finished with 169 yards rushing on 32 carries for Pittsburgh, helping to offset a pedestrian day by Bostick, who was intercepted three times.
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Photos by: Aaron Suozzi
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For the Irish, Jimmy Clausen threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Michael Floyd in the final 1:27 of the first half that put the Irish in front, 17-3, going into the break. Floyd caught a career-high 10 passes for 100 yards.
First Quarter: Tied, 3-3
Starting from his own 17, Clausen hit Duval Kamara on the first play from scrimmage for a 20-yard gain. A 15-yard run by Armando Allen set up a first down at the Pitt 23, but a third-down pass fell incomplete and the Irish had to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Brandon Walker with 9:38 on the clock.
The Panthers failed to pick up a first down on their first series with Pat Bostick starting at quarterback in place of the injured Bill Stull, and Notre Dame took over on its 32-yard line. Clausen connected with Floyd for 11 yards and a first down, but missed on his next three attempts. Pittsburgh blocked the ensuing punt and recovered at the Irish 20.
Notre Dame’s defense held the Panthers to a 35-yard Conor Lee field goal at the 5:58 mark, and after an exchange of punts and a couple of Clausen-to-Floyd passes, the period ended with the Irish holding the ball at their own 34-yard line.
Second Quarter: Notre Dame, 17-3
The Panthers forced an Irish punt and then finally broke out of their offensive slide with a 21-yard catch by Baldwin off a tipped ball. McCoy ran for two more first downs to advance the ball to the Notre Dame 31, but he was stopped by Kyle McCarthy for a 9-yard loss two plays later. Bostick tripped and fell on the next play, taking Pitt out of field-goal range.
After getting the ball back at the 9-yard line, the Irish moved into Pittsburgh territory when Golden Tate pulled a loose ball away from two Panther defenders – a play reminiscent of Lynn Swann’s famed Super Bowl catch – for a 47-yard gain. Floyd followed with a 12-yard shoestring grab, then hauled in another Clausen throw two plays later in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown with 1:27 remaining.
Raeshon McNeil gave Notre Dame another scoring chance when he intercepted a Bostick pass and returned it 43 yards to the Pitt 13 with 30 seconds to go. Floyd’s seventh reception of the half, a 4-yarder backpedaling through the front right quarter of the end zone, doubled the Irish lead four seconds before the intermission.
Third Quarter: Notre Dame, 17-10
Pitt’s opening possession of the half was kept alive by a personal-foul flag after a stop on third down, and a fourth-down pass to Oderick Turner picked up 37 yards to set up first and goal at the Irish 4-yard line. LaRod Stevens-Howling went up the middle for a rushing touchdown on the next play, bringing the Panthers back within a touchdown at the 10:55 mark.
Notre Dame went three and out on its next possession, but McNeil struck again, picking off a tipped ball at the Pittsburgh 37. The turnover didn’t bear any fruit, however, as the Irish were stopped on downs at the 34.
Fourth Quarter: Tied, 24-24
A direct snap to McCoy gained 21 yards, giving Pitt another first-and-goal at the 6, and three plays later the sophomore tailback dove in for a one-yard score. Lee’s PAT with 11:03 left knotted the score back up at 17-17.
The Irish moved back into Pittsburgh territory, moving to the 10 on a 31-yard catch-and-run by Tate up the left sideline. On third and goal from the 6, Clausen lofted a jump ball to the left corner of the end zone for Tate, who pulled it in with 5:38 remaining to put Notre Dame back on top.
Pitt wasn’t done, though, moving quickly into Irish territory. From the 10, Bostick tried three straight jump balls to Baldwin on the right side of the end zone, finally converting the last one on fourth down with 2:22 left.
The visitors got an opportunity late to go for the win after the Irish turned it over on downs at midfield, but a David Bruton interception snuffed out that chance.
First Overtime: Tied, 27-27
A 15-yard run by McCoy gave Pitt a quick first-and-goal at the 10, but the defense stiffened and forced the Panthers to make do with a 22-yard field goal by Lee. The Irish countered with three straight runs by Allen to the 3, but a third-down pass didn’t connect and Walker forced another extra period with a 22-yard kick of his own.
Second Overtime: Tied, 30-30
Notre Dame again moved the ball inside the 10, but after Clausen threw high for Floyd on 3rd and 7 from the 8, Walker made his third kick of the day, this one from 26 yards. Pitt couldn’t muster a first down but did create another deadlock as Lee converted from 32 yards for his third field goal.
Third Overtime: Tied, 33-33
A 16-yard screen pass to McCoy gave the Panthers a first down at the Irish 13, but after a pair of 2-yard runs by Stephens-Howling, Bostick overshot tight end Nate Byham and Pitt again had to lean on Lee, who cashed in on a 26-yarder. The Irish made things a little tougher for Walker, who was pushed back for a 48-yard kick after Clausen was sacked on third down. The kick started out to the left, but hooked inside the upright with plenty of distance.
Fourth Overtime: Pitt, 36-33
After Pitt’s Aaron Berry broke up a third-down pass intended for Tate, Walker again trotted out, this time for a 38-yarder – but this one started to the left and stayed there, putting the Panthers in position to win with a field goal. McCoy broke loose for an 18-yard run to the 6, and after one more run play to the middle of the field, Lee converted for a fifth straight time.
By The Numbers: Notre Dame outgained the Panthers, 386-346, with a 271-168 advantage in passing...Pitt had the edge on the ground, 178-115...The Panthers, who were perfect (3 of 3) on fourth-down conversions, finished with a 31:16-to-28:44 edge in time of possession.
