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Pitt Holds On For 27-22 Win Over Fighting Irish

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) ―

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The Pitt Panthers held on for a big 27-22 victory despite a fourth quarter rally by Notre Dame Saturday night at Heinz Field.

Jonathan Baldwin made two exceptional catches that allowed the Panthers to open up an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But Notre Dame rallied behind two touchdowns by Golden Tate to nearly pull off a comeback win.

The first touchdown of the game came late in the second half when Baldwin, who was matched step for step by Notre Dame defender Darrin Walls, stretched out to catch Bill Stull's 36-yard touchdown pass. That gave Pitt a 10-3 lead.

Later, Baldwin made a soaring 51-yard grab over Walls to the Irish 29, and that led to Dan Hutchins' second field goal, a 38-yarder, and a 13-3 lead.

After the Irish punted, Graham ran through half of the Notre Dame defense on a 53-yard run that led to his 2-yard score one play later.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen scored a 1-yard touchdown.

But Pitt freshman Dion Lewis then took over to score from the 50 and make it 27-9.

Notre Dame's rally got going when Tate caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Clausen to cut the score to 27-16 with 9:10 remaining.

Tate then ran right up the middle of Pitt's punt coverage unit on an 87-yard touchdown return less than two minutes later.

The Irish got the ball at their own 20 with 3:39 remaining with a chance to pull off a comeback, but a 15-yard chop block penalty prevented the drive from taking off, and Clausen fumbled while under pressure on a third-and-16 play.

It was initially ruled an incompletion but was reversed on replay and Pitt held on for the victory.

Tate ended with nine catches for 113 yards in his second 100-yard game against Pitt in as many seasons.

Stull went 15 of 27 for 236 yards and no interceptions, while Baldwin made five catches for 142 yards.

Pitt has improved to 9-1 for the first time since 1982, which was Dan Marino's senior season.

They are headed for a Dec. 5th home date against Cincinnati that will decide the Big East Conference champion and BCS bowl representative.

On Nov. 27th, Pitt heads to Morgantown for the annual "Backyard Brawl" against West Virginia University. But that won't factor into the conference race.

READ MORE: Game Recap | Scoreboard