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Navy Tops Pitt 48-45 In Double Overtime

Danny Dabiri |Oct 10,2007

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Navy Tops Pitt 48-45 In Double Overtime

The Pittsburgh Panthers suffered a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Navy Midshipmen on Wednesday night. The nationally televised 48-45 double overtime shootout was the latest disappointment in the Dave Wannstedt era. Wannstedt cannot catch a break. With the loss, the Panthers fall to 2-4 this season.

Trailing 48-45 in the second overtime, Wannstedt curiously decided to go for the touchdown on fourth down instead of attempting the game tying field goal. Mind you the game was being played in Pittsburgh at Heinz Field. Sadly, the Panthers, members of the Big East Conference, were forced to go for the win at home because they simply couldn’t keep up with Navy any longer. Of course, the fourth down pass fell incomplete and Panthers lost their fourth straight game.

A bowl game seems unlikely at this point. Outside of a matchup with fellow Big East doormat Syracuse, the Panthers will be hard pressed to win any of their remaining games. Fans and alumni will undoubtedly be calling for Wannstedt’s head and with good reason. The Panthers have fallen off under his reign while conference members Rutgers and South Florida have enjoyed new found success.

On the bright side, the rapid development of freshman running back LeSean McCoy offers hope for the future. McCoy has rushed for over 600 yards and nine touchdowns this season. It will be interesting to see whether Wannstedt can weather the storm and turn the Pitt program around. If the Panthers can find a quarterback to complement McCoy, Pittsburgh will be a serious factor in the years to come.

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