Pitt freshman LeSean McCoy set Pitt's record for rushing touchdowns by a freshman yesterday in the Panthers' 48-37 loss to South Florida at Heinz Field. McCoy had three rushing touchdowns, giving him 14 for the season -- one more than Tony Dorsett had in 1973.

But McCoy was in no mood to celebrate because the Panthers didn't win and the loss dropped them to 4-7, ensuring his first collegiate season will be a losing one.

"I guess it is a good thing to break a record because [Dorsett] is one of the greatest backs ever," McCoy said. "But it hasn't really hit me because this loss has really hit me. Eventually, the record will hit me."

Overall, McCoy and the running game struggled against the Bulls -- the Panthers had just 95 yards on 34 carries -- but he said part of that was the game plan.

"You have to give their defense credit," said McCoy, who rushed for 55 yards, giving him 1,180 for the season, 81 shy of the Big East Conference freshman rushing record.

"But our plan coming in was to back them off by trying to throw the ball. So we really didn't get too much into the running game, so you really can't say they shut it down."

Fooled again

It isn't a surprise that South Florida was able to pull off a fake punt in the first quarter -- the Bulls successfully ran two fake punts for first downs a year ago against Pitt.

And South Florida coach Jim Leavitt said that if the Bulls had needed to run another one yesterday, he had no doubt it would have worked because of the way the Panthers line up to defend punts.

"We practiced it all week and we really felt like it would be there. It worked out pretty good," he said. "We saw it on film. We really thought there was a chance for it. We really felt like we could have run it even after that. It was still there. We just didn't run it. The guys are probably mad at me for that. It was still there on a fourth-and-1 from our own 20.

"We probably could have got it but we could have had a bad snap. I don't know if you want to go to the well that many times."

Big injury

The Panthers might have to play the season finale next week at West Virginia without starting tight end Nate Byham, who went down with a knee injury. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said Byham's injury appeared to be serious but that he would wait until the results of an MRI today.

Although Wannstedt talked all week about using two quarterbacks, reserve Kevan Smith (shoulder) did not practice and was not healthy enough to play.

Quick hits

Pitt honored 10 seniors who played their final home game yesterday. ... Pat Bostick posted career highs with 298 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions -- two were returned for a touchdowns and the third was returned to the Panthers 1. ... Scott McKillop had a career high 19 tackles. He entered the game as Division I-A's leader in tackles (12.4 per game).