SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- At some point yesterday afternoon, Pitt coaches made a discovery that clearly changed the course of what was shaping up to be a potentially devastating loss to Syracuse. And that discovery might change the course of a season.

So, what was the discovery?

Simply put, tailbacks LaRod Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy are Pitt's best offensive weapons and the Panthers' chances of winning increase exponentially the more those two have the ball in their hands.

Yesterday, McCoy and Stephens-Howling combined to rush for 220 yards and two touchdowns, leading Pitt (3-1, 1-0 Big East Conference) to a come-from-behind, 34-24 win against Syracuse (1-4, 0-1) in a league opener before a crowd of 27,549 at the Carrier Dome.

Stephens-Howling scored the sealing touchdown on a 3-yard run with 3:22 to play and did it the way he and McCoy had done it all day -- combining speed with excellent blocking.

McCoy had his first 100-yard game this season, rushing 28 times for 149 yards, including his longest run of the year, a 34-yard dash on the final play of the third quarter that fueled Pitt's tying drive.

Stephens-Howling, who rushed 13 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns, teamed with McCoy for a 5.4 yards per carry average.

It was obvious in the second half that coach Dave Wannstedt and his offensive staff put the game in the hands of the two running backs.

"But it was our offensive line against their defensive line," said Stephens-Howling. "Our O-line was pushing them down the field the whole second half. We were really running simple plays and didn't change much up; we just kept running it right down their throats.

"Our offensive line was just blasting them -- it really didn't matter what plays we ran or which running back was in there, we were getting positive yards."

McCoy understood the offensive sea change, too.

"It felt good for me to finally get the 100 [rushing yards], but, more importantly, for our offense to come out and just pound the ball. It takes a lot of guts to just come out there like that, especially when the other team knows what you are going to do.

"I mean, we had one wide receiver and the tight ends and the big boys up front were getting it done -- that is mentally and physically tough for an offense to go out there and do that."

Pitt also got a lift from kicker Conor Lee, who tied a school record by making four field goals. Lee put the Panthers ahead for good with a 25-yard field goal with 9:17 left after making field goals of 40 and 43 yards in the first half to keep Pitt within striking distance and set up the second-half comeback.

"Those four field goals were huge," Wannstedt said. "He was great, especially early on because those points were all important."

It was the second consecutive week the Panthers trailed heading into the fourth quarter and the second consecutive week they had the character to find a way to win. Wannstedt said it was not the ideal scenario for the Panthers, but the end result was satisfying.

"Anybody that thought this was going to be different than what it was has no clue about young athletes and coaches and trying to win," Wannstedt said.

"I thought our kids did a great job at halftime of not coming unglued, of staying positive. I normally don't award game balls in the locker room until I see the film ... but LaRod Stephens-Howling, the guy made tackles on kickoffs, the guy made tackles on punts and he obviously scored the two touchdowns."

Pitt benefitted from one major break in the first half when Orange coach Greg Robinson decided against going for a first down on fourth-and-1 at the Panthers' 38.

Instead, he ordered a punt. To that point, the Orange had dominated play and led, 14-3, while the Panthers' defense spun its wheels.

"That decision gave us confidence," said Pitt middle linebacker Scott McKillop.

The Panthers, who mostly conceded the outcome likely would have been different if Syracuse had forged a 21-3 lead, responded by outscoring the Orange, 31-10, after the punt.