Pitt is clinging to a 17-16 lead over Buffalo after three quarters before an announced crowd of 42,494 Saturday night at Heinz Field.
Pitt used precision passing from quarterback Bill Stull, who completed 6 of 6 attempts for 55 yards — including a 5-yarder on a third down to tight end Nate Byham at the Buffalo 6 — to set up McCoy’s 1-yard scoring run for a 17-9 lead at 10:05 of the third quarter.
Buffalo answered with a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive capped by Drew Willy’s 39-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Brett Hamlin on a blown coverage that cut it to 17-16 with 6:41 remaining in the third.
The Panthers have possession at their own 26 to start the fourth quarter.
