CHESTNUT HILL, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- It took nearly 3 1/2 quarters, but Larry Fitzgerald set an NCAA record for most consecutive games with a touchdown reception as No. 23 Pittsburgh rallied for a 24-13 victory over Boston College.
Fitzgerald made it 14 straight games with a TD reception when he scored on a 35-yard halfback option pass from Jawan Walker with 8:13 remaining in the contest. The sophomore wide receiver broke the record set by Michigan State's Charles Rogers last season.
"Like I said last week, it's (the record) something that you really don't think about," Fitzgerald said. "It's something I'll probably think about five, 10 years from now but the important thing was that we got the victory."
Walker hit a wide-open Fitzgerald inside the 5-yard line and the speedy receiver stepped into the end zone for the clinching score.
"I wouldn't say it was the easiest (touchdown), probably the most wide-open, though," he said.
Fitzgerald, who finished with seven receptions for 156 yards, caught his 28th career touchdown pass, setting an NCAA mark for most TDs by a player in his first two seasons. Florida's Jabbar Gaffney held the previous record.
It was Fitzgerald's 16th TD reception this year, tying Pittsburgh's single-season record set by Julius Dawkins in 1981. In addition, he recorded his 11th career 100-yard receiving game, tied for second in Big East history.
"They have a great offense and he's (Fitzgerald) very, very smart," Boston College defensive back Wil Blackmon said. "I was just trying to stop him, period."
In their last visit here, the Panthers suffered a 45-7 loss, their worst defeat during coach Walt Harris' tenure.
"It is exciting to sit in this room, to be in that locker room with the memory I have from the last time we were here," Harris said. "This is very, very sweet for our football team."
Boston College led, 13-10, at the intermission, but Walker caught a 47-yard TD pass from Rod Rutherford to put the Panthers (6-2, 3-0 Big East Conference) ahead for good 81 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Rutherford completed 24-of-37 passes for 329 yards with an interceptions as the Panthers recorded their first win at Boston College since 1989.
"I don't think earlier in the season lanes were opening up like it did today," Rutherford said. "Our line stepped up big time today. They played great ball today. I had a lot of fun out there."
Walker played a part in all three Pittsburgh touchdowns as he scored on a three-yard TD run that gave the Panthers a 10-3 lead with 13:34 left in the first half.
Boston College (5-4, 1-3) tied it on Horace Dodd's one-yard TD plunge just under three minutes later and took a 13-10 halftime lead on Sandro Sciortino's 22-yard field goal with 2:40 remaining.
Derrick Knight rushed for 119 yards on 19 carries for the Eagles, his 15th career 100-yard game and sixth of the season.
Knight could have finished with an even higher total but he had a 41-yard TD negated by a penalty after the Panthers had taken their 17-13 lead.
"This is hard to accept, especially since it was such a critical part of the season," said Boston College quarterback Quinton Porter, who completed just 12-of-29 passes for 189 yards. "It's in November and we're making a bowl run."
Boston College could not maintain the momentum it had in the first half as the Eagles managed only one first down in the third quarter.
"I think the essence comes down to the fact that we (the offense) were unable to stay on their field there in the third quarter," Boston College coach Tom O'Brien said. "We were unable to get off the field on defense."
Pittsburgh finished with a 13-minute edge in time of possession, running 83 plays, compared to 67 for Boston College.
"I'd say it was a hard-fought football game," Harris said. "It wasn't beautiful all the time. We got a little frustrated, they rushed the passer well. We got a little frustrated and Rod did an outstanding job of dumping the ball."
