Utah upends No. 15 Pitt in overtime

After being unable to hold an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, Utah’s defense redeemed itself in overtime.

Utah freshman Brian Blechen intercepted a pass for on the first play of overtime, setting up Joe Phillips for a 21-yard field goal that gave the Utes a 27-24 victory against No. 15 Pittsburgh on Thursday night in Salt Lake City.

Pittsburgh rallied with 14 points in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime on Dan Hutchins’ 30-yard field goal on the final play of regulation.

But after Utah won the toss and elected to play defense, Blechen quickly doused any hopes the Panthers had of completing the comeback when he bolted in front of Pitt receiver Mike Shanahan and grabbed Tino Sunseri’s pass at the sideline.

Jordan Wynn passed for 283 yards with three touchdowns for Utah, including two to Jereme Brooks.

Wynn’s third TD was a short pass over the middle that DeVonte Christopher broke for a 61-yard touchdown that put Utah up 24-13 with 7:59 left to play.

The Panthers struck back on a 44-yard pass from Sunseri to Jon Baldwin, who was all alone inside the 10-yard line because of a breakdown in Utah’s secondary. Sunseri went to Baldwin again for the two-point conversion that pulled the Panthers within a field goal at 24-21 with 7:11 left to play.

Utah wasn’t able to run enough time off the clock to keep the Panthers from one final drive, which Hutchins capped with the tying field goal despite having to kick the ball three times.

His first attempt was good, but Utah coach Kyle Whittingham called timeout just before the snap and Hutchins had to kick again.

Whittingham did the same thing on the re-kick, which was wide and had fans and Utah players celebrating before they learned there was yet another kick to come. This time Hutchins was back on target and tied it at 24.

But Blechen got the momentum and the ball back for the Utes with his pick in overtime and Utah to played it safe from there. The Utes never attempted another pass, running it down inside the 10 and leaving Phillips with a chip shot to win it.

(2) Ohio St. 42, Marshall 7: Terrelle Pryor tossed three touchdown passes, Brandon Saine rushed for 103 yards and two scores and the No. 2 Buckeyes rolled over the error-prone Thundering Herd in Columbus, Ohio.

Pryor completed 17 of 25 passes for 247 yards and TDs covering 6 and 11 yards to DeVier Posey and 65 yards to Dane Sanzenbacher.

(13) Miami 45, Florida A&M 0: Jacory Harris threw for 210 yards and three touchdowns before sitting out the second half, Leonard Hankerson caught six passes for 115 yards and two scores, and No. 13 Hurricanes rolled past the Rattlers.

It was Miami’s first shutout since Oct. 14, 2006.

Damien Berry had a 32-yard touchdown reception for the Hurricanes, who were up 35-0 after the game’s first 25 minutes. Lamar Miller and Mike James had TD runs for Miami, and Ray-Ray Armstrong returned an interception 22 yards for another score.

(14) Southern California 49, Hawaii 36: At Honolulu, Matt Barkley threw five touchdown passes and the Trojans defeated the Warriors in USC coach Lane Kiffin’s debut.

The Trojans led 20-3 early in the second quarter, but long touchdown receptions of 56, 65 and 30 yards by Kealoha Pilares helped Hawaii keep it interesting, closing to within 42-30 in the middle of the fourth quarter and 49-36 with 3:52 remaining.

Barkley was 18-of-23 passing for 257 yards.