Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) – Duke and Pittsburgh played another wild
one, and this time it took overtime to decide a winner.
Thomas Sirk scored on a 5-yard run in the second extra period to lift the
24th-ranked Blue Devils to a 51-48 victory over the Panthers on Saturday at
Heinz Field.
Last year, Pittsburgh pulled out a 58-55 win at Duke. The Panthers were in
prime position to win this one with the final possession of regulation, but
Chris Blewitt missed a 26-yard field goal attempt as time expired.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, as Anthony Boone ran 12
yards for a Duke score and James Conner answered for Pitt with a 14-yard TD
run.
Pittsburgh had the ball first in the second extra period and failed to pick up
a first down, forcing Blewitt to kick a 43-yard field goal. The Blue Devils
then needed four plays to end the game, as Sirk found just enough room up the
middle to reach the end zone.
Sirk, a backup quarterback used primarily in short-yardage situations, had
just two carries, but both went for scores. He bulled in from the 1-yard line
on the final play of the first half to even the contest at 28-28.
