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Gardner-Webb Vs. Pitt Score: Panthers Lead Runnin' Bulldogs, 27-10, At Halftime

Senior running back Ray Graham has already compiled 82 rushing yards and one touchdown, a 78-yard first-quarter burst that has helped the Pittsburgh Panthers claim a 27-10 halftime lead over Gardner-Webb in a non-conference contest at Heinz Field.

Pitt (1-2) tallied a pair of touchdowns and field goals in the second quarter to take the commanding lead on Gardner-Webb (0-3), a Football Championship Subdivision program. Kicker Kevin Harper has nailed kicks from 41 and 22 yards, freshman tailback Rushel Shell tallied a 1-yard rushing touchdown, while senior quarterback Tino Sunseri threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Devin Street.

Three of the scores come on consecutive offensive possessions in the second quarter. Shells' touchdown was set up by a fumbled kick return by the Runnin' Bulldogs that the Panthers recovered at the Gardner-Webb 39-yard line. Six plays later, Shell scored and helped give Pitt a 17-3 lead with 11:27 to go in the half.

Gardner-Webb's lone touchdown came on the defensive side of the ball -- a 65-yard fumble recovery ran in for a touchdown by Kamar Morrison, who scored with just 1:10 to go in the half. Morrison scooped up a fumble from Pitts' Graham, who caught a pass from Sunseri but then was stripped.

Overall, Sunseri is 13-for-18 with 204 passing yards and one touchdown.

For more on Pittsburgh football, visit Pitt blog Cardiac Hill, plus SB Nation Pittsburgh. And Big East Coast Bias, for the time being.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.