On its opening two series, the offense whisked downfield while reaching so much as third down only once in 18 plays. There were two touchdowns and a missed field-goal try.

On its next series, the offense converted two of three third downs and collected a field goal. Three scores and a chance at a fourth in the first 30 plays -- not a bad jump-start to Pitt's scrimmage yesterday morning, right?

The next 45 plays, they mustered just one touchdown to go with two interceptions and too much frustration.

"I thought ... there were good things by a lot of different players at a lot of different times," Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said after the second-team offense outscored the first-team offense, 20-10, in a scrimmage against its corresponding second- and first-team defenses. "But we have to become more consistent.

"We started off the first three series, and our offense was going up and down the field pretty much at will. Then, our defense finally says, 'Enough of this,' and they go through three series when it's three-and-out, three-and-out, three-and-out.

"We need to become a lot more consistent from the opening snap to the end."

Quarterback Bill Stull of Seton-LaSalle High School directed the Panthers' first-teamers on drives to a missed, 48-yard field-goal try by Upper St. Clair's Conor Lee and a 17-yard touchdown run by LaRod Stephens-Howling, who rushed for 46 yards on seven carries.

After Seneca Valley's Kevan Smith guided the second-teamers to a 10-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Strong, Stull led the first unit to a 37-yard Lee field goal.

After that, the defense produced, in order: a third-down stop, an interception by Duquesne's Elijah Fields, a 40-yard Lee miss, a 1-yard touchdown run for Kevin Collier (45 yards on 10 carries) and the second-teamers, and two more third-down stops before Stull was intercepted on a splendid play by linebacker Shane Murray of Central Catholic. About the time the Panthers' defense stiffened, the offensive bright spot seemed to be Duquesne fullback Shane Brooks, who bulled for 48 yards on nine carries and a touchdown in the two-minute drill.

"The offense came out determined that we were not going to let the defense walk all over us like a couple of days before," said Stull, who completed 18 of 31 passes for 188 yards with one drop and got sacked and intercepted twice each.

"We came out strong, but coach always talks about that we have to finish."

Added Smith, who completed 10 of 15 for 145 yards and two touchdowns -- to Strong and a 53-yarder to reserve receiver Austin Ransom -- along with two dropped passes, "The first couple of drives, we felt great. We were doing everything right. I guess some of the momentum then went over to the defensive side. Bill and I, we have to learn to pick guys up and lead the team."

Wannstedt was displeased with two fumbled exchanges from second-team center John Bachman of Moon and a shotgun snap dropped by Smith, along with another fumble each by Smith and Stull.

"That's ridiculous," the coach said, only kidding slightly.

"This is the time to do it, 'cause we will not have any patience come fall. You got to get it worked out, or Bachman will move to tackle and Kevan to tight end."

That's tight

Besides Strong's single reception for a score, Pitt got a team-high four catches for 61 yards from Franklin's Nate Byham and two for 20 from Central Catholic's John Pelusi.

Tight end "is probably as strong a position as we have on our football team -- deep," Wannstedt said.

"Our tight ends are just awesome," added Stull, noting that Pelusi -- the best blocker of the three -- and his surgically repaired knee are rounding into health.

"They can all block, they can all run, they can all catch."