Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Pitt's Reggie Carter intercepts a ball intended for The Citadel's Joshua Haney yesterday in the third quarter at Heinz Field. Click photo for larger image.

Pitt used a little trickery to score its fourth touchdown in the 51-6 rout of The Citadel yesterday, but the play might have been stopped if the Bulldogs had been paying closer attention to the events leading up to the snap.

Panthers quarterback Tyler Palko threw a backwards pass to tight end Darrell Strong, a former quarterback, and Strong threw downfield to tailback LaRod Stephens-Howling for a 30-yard touchdown and 28-6 lead.

The play caught the Bulldogs and Strong by surprise. That's why he quickly took off his receivers' gloves in the huddle and left them on the ground when he lined up for the play.

"When I saw his gloves lying there, I thought 'man, this play has no chance of working,' " Stephens-Howling said.

"But they must not have seen it and they bit on it and, when I ran out there, I was wide open."

Added Strong: "I really had no idea I was supposed to pass. We'd been working on that play, but I wasn't expecting us to call it this week. I just threw my gloves on the ground and I thought that would do us in, but the defense didn't catch it, and it worked perfectly.

"The way I see it that pass was three years overdue. I came here as a quarterback, so that's still my passion, but I enjoy playing tight end, too."

		Next Opponent Team: Toledo Record: 2-2 overall, 0-1 in Mid-American Conference When: Noon Saturday, Heinz Field Rank: Unranked Yesterday: Defeated McNeese State, 41-7 Coach: Tom Amstutz, 47-20 in his sixth season Points for: 131 Points against: 114 Series: 1-1 Comment: The Rockets won the previous meeting, 35-31, at the Glass Bowl in 2003. The Panthers won a year earlier, 37-19, at Heinz Field. ... Toledo went 9-3 last year, including a 45-13 victory against UTEP in the GMAC Bowl. ... Lost first two games on road this year at Iowa State, at Western Michigan. ... Beat Kansas, 37-31, a week ago. ... Before last night, QB Clint Cochran had completed 57.1 percent (72 of 126) of his passes for 721 yards.

Nice compliment

Kevin Higgins, in his second season as The Citadel's coach, came away from the game impressed with the Panthers.

"Hopefully, we will walk away with experience from playing a team who is bigger," Higgins said.

"Pitt has size and speed. They are better than any team we have played in my two years."

That's high praise considering that last season The Citadel played Florida State, which was one of the BCS teams, and Mississippi and played Texas A&M earlier this season.

Lineup shuffle

Chris McKillop started at right defensive end ahead of Doug Fulmer, who missed two days of practice this week to attend to a funeral.

Fulmer also injured his ankle in the game and will be evaluated this morning.

Brian Bennett started at weakside linebacker instead of Tommie Campbell, who was suspended for the game because of a "violation of team policy," said Wannstedt.

Wannstedt also made it clear that Campbell's suspension was for only yesterday's game.

Quick hits

Fulmer's was the only significant injury for the Panthers, although defensive tackle Mick Williams missed the contest because of a shoulder injury. ... Conredge Collins, Marcel Pestano and Kevin Collier each scored the first touchdown of their careers. ... Backup quarterback Bill Stull played a large portion of the second half and completed 2 of 4 passes for 18 yards. ... Wide receiver Oderick Turner had five receptions for 130 yards to record his first 100-yard receiving game.