Last Wednesday night, Pittsburgh sat on Navy’s 2-yard line facing fourth down. They only needed a field goal to force a third overtime. Pitt kicker Connor Lee had already converted a 23-yard field goal earlier in the third quarter.

Pitt head coach Dave Wannstedt decided to go for the win.

Wannstedt didn’t go to his freshman running back LeSean McCoy, who had already racked up 165 yards and three touchdowns that night. Instead, another freshman, quarterback Pat Bostick, got the call and his pass sailed incomplete.

It’s been that kind of season for the Panthers (2-4, 0-1), but not for McCoy. Although hope for this year’s season may be dwindling among the Panther faithful, the future for the team may not be so dismal. A former blue-chip recruit originally from Pennsylvania, McCoy is proving to be just as good as advertised, carrying the load for the underachieving Panthers despite his inexperience.

‘McCoy is an outstanding running back. He’s adapted to the college game very, very well,’ Connecticut head coach Randy Edsall said. ‘He’s a guy that all of us in the Big East will have to contend for the next three years. I think he’s someone that’s very, very special.’

As a five-star recruit coming out Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.) McCoy finished with 6,640 yards, good for ninth in the state record books for career rushing yards. In the first three-and-a-half games of his senior season, McCoy was on pace to have his best season. Averaging 10.3 yards per carry and already with 859 rushing yards, an injury to his ankle halted his rapid pace.

McCoy ended high school as one of the most decorated backs in his graduating class. Twice he was named to The Associated Press Pennsylvania Class AAAA All-State Team. But with his season finished, McCoy had a decision to make about college. The star back originally made a strong commitment to Miami (Fla.) before enrolling at Milford (N.Y.) Academy. McCoy was also recruited by big-name programs such as Florida, University of Southern California and Virginia Tech.

However, he left his options open and after courting from both Penn State and Pittsburgh, he finally landed with the Panthers.

McCoy has picked up where he left off in high school. He currently averages 111.3 rushing yards per game – the second best in the nation among freshmen running backs. Wednesday against Navy was the second time McCoy scored three touchdowns in a game, the same number his quarterback, Bostick, has on the entire season.

The freshman is proving he can come through in critical moments, which was evident in Wednesday’s game. McCoy ran the ball in from the 2-yard line in the third quarter across the goalline, which put Pittsburgh ahead for the first time in nearly four games.

‘LeSean McCoy continues to improve each week and each game that he plays in,’ Wannstedt said. ‘I was pleased with our two young kids and our offense overall.’

McCoy is not the only athletically inclined member of his family. LeSean’s brother, LeRon McCoy, was drafted in the final round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Despite the inherent talent, McCoy can only do so much. He finds himself playing with an inexperienced true freshman quarterback, Bostick, who has seen action in just four games. Bostick has shown steady improvement over his three starts and has completed 64.4 percent of his passes, something Wannstedt is pleased with.

‘He missed over half of training camp,’ Wannstedt said. ‘Then he came back in and we had made a decision at that point about point blank telling him that you are probably going to be redshirt. … Then within two weeks, he’s in the starting lineup.’

Although time may be running out for Pittsburgh to salvage the season, it still has time to develop the young players. The Panthers still have games against Cincinnati, South Florida and West Virginia. All are ranked and conference opponents that McCoy will get to face for the first time.

‘He’s just not afraid. Most freshmen are going to be not looking to get the football,’ Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly said. ‘He’s got a great demeanor about him, looks like he loves to play the game. He’s not afraid to carry the ball.’

Game of the Week

No. 2 South Florida at RutgersTonight, 7:30 p.m., ESPN

Though Big East powerhouses Louisville and Rutgers have fallen out of the national rankings, USF has only continued to rise. Ranked No. 2 in the nation this week, USF will take on a Rutgers team that has fallen twice early in the season. Rutgers is a team that got back on track by breaking its two-game losing streak in a blowout road win against Syracuse.

The Bulls are one of only six remaining unbeaten teams in the nation and have currently won eight straight games. The winning streak is tied with Boston College and Hawaii for the longest active win streak in the nation. The last time the two teams met, Rutgers pulled out a two-point victory in Tampa, and it gets home field advantage in this year’s showdown.

Rutgers has been particularly efficient in the red zone this season. The Scarlet Knights have come away with points on 22 of their 23 attempts, a 95.7 percent success rate, within 20 yards of the goalline. Yet quarterback Mike Teel and Heisman Trophy candidate running back Ray Rice will face a suffocating defense. The Bulls have not allowed a running back to gain 100 yards in 14 straight games. On the bright side for Rutgers, the last back to do so was none other than Rice when he ripped off 202 yards in the win early last season.

Around the Conference

Louisville took the Keg of Nails back home as it handed Cincinnati its first loss of the season. The Cardinals spoiled the Bearcats nine-game winning streak that dated back to the previous season. It was the longest winning streak in the nation. … Rutgers running back Ray Rice extended his consecutive touchdown streak, which began last season, at the Carrier Dome Saturday. It marked his 13th straight game with at least one touchdown run. Rice found the end zone three times against the Orange. … USF defensive end George Selvie continued his assault on the USF record book in Saturday’s game against state rival UCF. His four tackles for loss pushed him to 21.5 on the season, which passed the USF record of 19 held by Craig Kobel and Kawika Mitchell. The sophomore was able to force a fumble against UCF; he currently leads the nation in both sacks (11.5) and tackles for loss.

Published on October 17, 2007 at 12:00 pm