Stout red zone defense helps Northwestern top Pitt in Pinstripe Bowl

Northwestern’s Justin Jackson (21) rushed for 224 yards in the win over Pitt. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Pittsburgh had one of the most efficient red zone offenses all season long. But on Wednesday in the Pinstripe Bowl against Northwestern, the Panthers’ poor execution inside the 20 doomed them.

In a 31-24 loss, Pitt had seven red zone trips, yielding only 17 points. And when the Panthers had a chance to tie the game with under three minutes to go, the usually reliable Scott Orndoff dropped a touchdown pass on a great third down pass from backup quarterback Ben DiNucci.

On the next play, DiNucci, a redshirt freshman in for injured starter Nate Peterman, threw an interception — the fourth time the Panthers came up empty in the red area.

Still down seven, Pitt would get the ball back one final time but DiNucci, making his first collegiate appearance, threw another interception to seal the win for Northwestern.

Pittsburgh scored a combined 175 points in its final three regular season games, but Northwestern’s defense was up to the challenge Wednesday at Yankee Stadium. The Panthers moved the ball into the red zone on their first three possessions, but came up with only three points. Pitt connected on a field goal on its first drive, but star running back James Conner at the one-yard line on fourth and goal on the next drive and Peterman was intercepted at the goal line later in the first.

All the while, Northwestern running back Justin Jackson was picking up yards in big chunks against the porous Pittsburgh defense. He reeled off touchdown runs of eight and 16 yards in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 14-3 lead.

Pitt finally reached the end zone when Peterman found Jester Weah behind the defense for a 69-yard score to cut the Northwestern lead to 14-10 at the break.

Pitt regained the lead early in the third when Peterman rushed it in from five yards out on third and goal, but Northwestern responded with a 40-yard burst from Jackson (224 yards on 32 carries), who broke free with a nasty juke for his third touchdown.

Pitt, now trailing 21-17, quickly moved deep into Northwestern territory on its next drive, but a poorly-timed snap on second-and-10 from the 13 proved costly. Peterman wasn’t ready and the shotgun snap careened into the backfield. Peterman was able to regain possession, but was drilled for an 18-yard loss. The hit, which later knocked Peterman out of the game, was curiously not ruled targeting, and kicker Chris Blewitt missed a 43-yard try a few plays later.

Northwestern had a chance to tack on to its lead, but quickly went three-and-out. On top of that, the Panthers blocked the punt to set up great field position. This time, with DiNucci in at QB (Pitt was also without Conner, who took a hit to the helmet when blocking early in the third), the Panthers cashed in and retook the lead, 24-21, on a five-yard touchdown pass to George Aston.

Like it did all game long, Northwestern responded. The Wildcats marched down the field in 14 plays to go back in front, and converted on two fourth down plays (their third and fourth successful fourth down tries of the game) in the process. First, Clayton Thorson hit Macan Wilson for a five-yard gain on fourth-and-three just inside midfield. Next, instead of trying to tie the game, Pat Fitzgerald dialed up another pass on fourth-and-one from the 21. Thorson hit tight end Garrett Dickerson in stride for a touchdown.

That ended up being the deciding score.

Northwestern tacked on a field goal after Pitt fumbled on its next drive, but the lead was just seven. When Pitt got the ball back, DiNucci worked the offense inside the 20, but the usually reliable Orndorff could not make the play on a pass right in his hands.

After a 1-3 start, the win clinches a second straight winning season for Northwestern (7-6) and gives Fitzgerald the second bowl win (in seven tries) of his 11-year tenure.

The loss is a disappointing ending to an up-and-down season for Pitt. The Panthers have two of the best wins of the year — over No. 2 Clemson and No. 5 Penn State — but finished the year 8-5 with a bowl loss for the second straight year.