Matt Freed, Post-Gazette photos Pitt receiver Derek Kinder scores the Panthers' first touchdown as The Citadel's Jonathan Vest defends yesterday in the first quarter. Click photo for larger image. More Coverage: Pitt Notebook: Panthers' Strong takes the gloves off, shows his skill

Pitt rolled to an easy, 51-6 win against The Citadel yesterday at Heinz Field in a game that reflected the disparity between a Division I-A team and one from Division I-AA.

It could have been a lot worse had Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt not pulled his starters out after two series in the second half. The Panthers (3-1) scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions and were never in danger of losing to the 0-3 Bulldogs.

"Nothing good usually comes from a game like this," Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko said. "I mean, we can't win against a I-AA team by enough points to satisfy people but The Citadel came and battled and I give them a lot of credit.

"By the same token, I think a sign of a good football team is they handle these games the way we did. We just went out and executed and that's something we need to do every week regardless of opponent."

Added Wannstedt: "Our players really did a good job of coming out ready to play. You're supposed to win these games."

Palko led the onslaught against a defense that loaded up against the run and covered many receivers one-on-one.

As a result, Palko completed 15 of 17 passes for 313 yards and four touchdowns. He ran twice for 17 yards for good measure. His 88.2 completion percentage was the sixth highest for a Big East quarterback.

He also moved ahead of John Congemi and into fourth place on Pitt's all-time career passing-yardage list (6,612) and leapfrogged both Tony Dorsett and Congemi to move into fourth on the Panthers' total offense list (6,655 total yards).

Pitt's receiver Oderick Turner pulls in a pass against The Citadel's Justin Matherson yesterday in the second quarter. Click photo for larger image.

"We're getting better, and that's the big thing," Palko said.

"As the quarterback, the only thing I can do is throw. I need to have someone that I can throw the ball to and today I had guys doing a good job of giving me time and the receivers did a good job of getting open and catching the ball."

Palko got started early as he threw touchdown passes of 20 yards to Derek Kinder and 36 to Conredge Collins on the Panthers' first two possessions to give them a 14-0 lead.

The third time they touched the ball, tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling did most of the work on a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive.

Stephens-Howling rushed eight times for 55 yards on the drive, including a 7-yard touchdown run.

The Panthers scored twice more before the half and made only one major mistake -- Kinder fumbled in the second quarter, and The Citadel turned it into its only touchdown -- the entire half. The Panthers led, 35-6, at the half, then added a safety on The Citadel's first possession in the third quarter. After the ensuing free kick, Palko hit Oderick Turner with a 52-yard touchdown pass.

Total offense
Tyler Palko moved into fourth place yesterday on Pitt's all-time offense list.
Name/Seasons	Total yds
Alex Van Pelt 1988-92	11,148
Dan Marino '79-92	8,320
Rod Rutherford 2000-03	7,609
Tyler Palko '02-present	6,655
Tony Dorsett '73-76	6,526
John Congemi '83-86	6,351
Rick Trocano '77-80	4,892
David Priestley '99-01	4,445
John Ryan '92-95	3,980
Pete Gonzalez '93-97	3,934

Then, Palko traded his helmet for a baseball cap and gave way to backup Bill Stull as the reserves poured into the game. That included freshman defensive end McKenzie Mathews, who played for the first time, but it did not include heralded tailback Dorin Dickerson or offensive tackle Jason Pinkston.

"Pinkston is real close, and we talked about him during the game," Wannstedt said. "But it is also a situation where you don't want to put these kids in and not give them a fair opportunity to be successful. I think if we would have put Jason in there with all those blitzes that team was running it wouldn't have been good. He is going to be a great player for us and he'll probably play before the year is out.

"Dorin is another one we are still looking at getting in -- him and Nate Nix are probably the two guys that are close but we'll see."

Stephens-Howling led the Panthers with 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes, including one from tight end Darrell Strong that went for 30 yards and a touchdown. Pitt finished with 506 yards of total offense and held the Bulldogs to 152.