PITTSBURGH, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Avon Cobourne set a single-season school rushing record Saturday as the 21st-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers clinched second place in the Big East Conference with a 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh.
Already West Virginia's all-time leading rusher, Cobourne ran for 103 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries to raise his season total to 1,562. He broke Amos Zereoue's previous school mark of 1,559 yards set in 1997.
West Virginia closed the regular season with a 9-3 record, including a 6-1 mark in the Big East, after going 3-8 last season. The Mountaineers are likely headed to the Gator Bowl to face North Carolina State.
For the second straight week, Pittsburgh (8-4, 5-2) had a chance to tie the contest in the final minute, reaching the West Virginia 11 with 50 seconds remaining. But the Panthers turned the ball over on downs after a three-yard loss on first down and three incompletions.
In last week's 28-21 loss to top-ranked Miami, Rod Rutherford's fourth-down pass to the end zone fell incomplete in the game's final moments.
Cobourne gave the Mountaineers the lead for good, 17-10, with a spectacular two-yard run with 1:45 remaining in the first half. He appeared to be stopped at the line, but spun off several tacklers and twisted his way into the end zone.
Larry Fitzgerald had a pair of touchdown catches for Pittsburgh and set a single-season school freshman record with 11, but the Panthers could not overcome four turnovers.
Pittsburgh tied the contest, 10-10, on David Abdul's 33-yard field goal with 10:01 remaining in the first half before the Panthers turned the ball over on their next three possessions.
Rasheed Marshall passed and ran for touchdowns for the Mountaineers and set up another score with a reception on a flea flicker.
Safety Angel Estrada turned back a Pittsburgh scoring opportunity by intercepting Rutherford inside the Mountaineers' 25 late in the first half. It then took West Virginia only four plays to take the lead for good.
Marshall hit Phil Braxton for a 30-yard completion, then hauled in a 25-yard reception from backup quarterback Danny Embrick to give the Mountaineers a first and goal at the five. Two plays later, Cobourne scored to give the West Virginia a 17-10 lead.
The Panthers had another chance before intermission, but cornerback Brian King picked off Rutherford just short of the goal line.
Pittsburgh continued to move the ball on its first possession of the second half, reaching the West Virginia 14. But on second and six, Rutherford's pitch hit fullback Lousaka Polite on the helmet and linebacker Ben Collins recovered the fumble for West Virginia.
Marshall gave the Mountaineers a 24-10 lead by connecting with Braxton for a 79-yard score with 6:55 left in the third quarter.
The Panthers closed to within 24-17 on Rutherford's 25-yard strike to Fitzgerald 12 seconds into the final period.
