PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Larry Fitzgerald tied Charles Rogers' NCAA record for consecutive games with at least one touchdown pass as Pittsburgh posted a 34-14 Big East Conference victory over Syracuse.
Fitzgerald, the nation's leading receiver in yards per game, grabbed eight passes for 149 yards and two TDs. He has at least one TD in 12 straight games, matching the record set by Rogers last season at Michigan State.
Fitzgerald also established a Big East record for receiving TDs in a season with 15, surpassing the previous mark of 13 by Pittsburgh's Terry Murphy in 1997. He is within one TD of tying the school record set by Julius Dawkins in 1981.
Rod Rutherford completed 21-of-32 passes for 310 yards with three TDs and an interception for the Panthers (5-2, 2-0), who trailed, 14-7, in the first quarter.
The Orangeman (4-3, 1-2) snapped a 7-7 tie on R.J. Anderson's two-yard TD run with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
Pittsburgh took control with a pair of touchdowns in a 36-second span late in the second period. The Panthers tied it on Rutherford's 19-yard TD pass to Kris Wilson with 4:54 left in the half, then grabbed a 21-14 lead when defensive back Bernard Lay returned a fumble 20 yards for a score.
Rutherford tossed a seven-yard TD pass to Fitzgerald in the third period before David Abdul kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter.
Anderson completed just 7-of-18 passes for 49 yards with two interceptions for Syracuse (4-3, 1-2). Walter Reyes rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries for the Orangemen.
Pittsburgh has won two straight since its loss to Notre Dame while Syracuse has dropped two of its last three.
The Panthers have won consecutive games over the Orangemen for the first time since an 11-game run from 1973-83. Pittsburgh beat Syracuse at home for the first time since 1989.
