Notre Dame (1-4) Misses Kick and Loses to Pittsburgh, 10-9

Pittsburgh freshman Jeff Van Horne kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:25 to play, and Notre Dame’s John Carney was wide with a 44-yard attempt with 23 seconds left as the Panthers defeated the Irish, 10-9, Saturday.

Van Horne’s winning kick was set up when freshman defensive tackle David DiTommaso blocked a Notre Dame punt to give Pitt possession at the Irish 34.

Carney kicked three field goals, including one from 48 yards in the first half, but he missed two as the Irish fell to 1-4. Pitt is 3-2-1.

Carney’s third field goal, a 20-yarder, capped a 74-yard, 13-play drive that brought the Irish to the Pitt three-yard-line and gave them a 9-7 lead with 4:49 to go.

Pitt quarterback John Congemi scored on a one-yard sneak early in the third quarter for the game’s only touchdown. It capped an 83-yard drive that began when linebacker Steve Apke intercepted a Steve Beuerlein pass. The drive included a 19-yard screen pass to tailback Craig Heyward on third and 14.

Congemi completed 25 of 48 passes for 310 yards. But Notre Dame held Pitt to 23 yards rushing in 31 carries.