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PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The post-Donovan McNabb era is going just fine for Syracuse. Troy Nunes threw three first-half touchdown passes as the 17th-ranked Orangemen built a comfortable lead before holding on for a 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh in a Big East Conference matchup. A redshirt freshmen, Nunes hit Kyle Johnson with an eight-yard scoring toss pass in the first quarter and added TD passes of one and 22 yards to tight end Stephen Brominski in the second, helping Syracuse (5-1, 2-0 Big East) open a 21-0 halftime advantage. Nunes, who shares time at quarterback with sophomore Madei Williams, has thrown for nine touchdowns this season as the Orangemen have not missed a beat without McNabb, who was taken with the second overall pick in the NFL draft. Despite Nunes' efforts, the Panthers (3-2, 1-1) scored 17 unanswered points to close within a touchdown in the fourth quarter and were in position to tie the score. Pittsburgh moved to the Orangemen 27-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. But John Turman's pass on 4th-and-13 fell incomplete. The Panthers got back the ball and had one last chance, but David Priestley's "Hail Mary" pass into the end zone was intercepted by cornerback Jamont Kinds. "It seems like every time we are here, (a close game) happens," Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. "In the number of times since I've been a coach at Syracuse, which is back to 1987, I don't ever recall an easy time (in Pitt Stadium)." Syracuse will bring a three-game winning streak into next weekend's showdown at unbeaten and fifth-ranked Virginia Tech. After Nathan Trout kicked a 28-yard field goal 1:50 into the third quarter to extend Syracuse's lead to 24-0, the Panthers started their comeback. Running back Kevin Barlow, who entered the game with 342 rushing yards and three touchdowns, scored from one yard with 15 seconds left in the period to get the Panthers on the board. The conversion failed. Barlow finished with 108 yards on 25 carries. Barlow accounted for a touchdown of a different variety 4:07 into the fourth quarter, finding receiver Latef Grim with a 13-yard halfback pass. Turman completed a pass to Kirk McMullen for the conversion that brought the Panthers within 24-14. Grim caught six passes for 83 yards. "Barlow missed the halfback pass every time in practice during the week," Grim said. "I told him in the huddle that he doesn't have to be Dan Marino. He should just toss the ball and let me get open." Nick Lotz kicked a 39-yard field goal just over two minutes later to close the scoring. "It was not a good performance in the first half, but an extraordinary performance in the second half," Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris said. "I don't like to lose, our players don't like to lose, but I am very proud of being down 24-0 and fighting back." A bit of luck helped the Orangemen open the scoring late in the first quarter. Trout was setting up for a 25-yard field goal but the snap went awry. Nunes, the holder, tracked down the ball and found Johnson wide open in the end zone. Nunes, who is from nearby Butler, Pennsylvania, did not start in favor of Williams tonight. But he completed 12-of-17 passes for 112 yards. Williams was 1-of-9 for only six yards. The Orangemen did not need any luck on their next two drives. Nunes capped a 14-play, 64-yard drive with a one-yard toss to Brominski with 7:43 to play before halftime. Syracuse was even more efficient on its next possession. Nunes engineered a nine-play, 99-yard drive and capped it with another scoring strike to Brominski, this time finding his big tight end from 22 yards for a 21-0 lead with 65 seconds to play. "Just standing on the field is a different atmosphere. It's even better to win here," Nunes said. "We had a bit of emotion at halftime. We come out flat in the second half. We have some things to work on." Priestley and Turman also shared quarterbacking duties for the Panthers. Priestley was 9-of-20 for 133 yards, while Turman was 2-of-7 for nine yards.
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