PITTSBURGH - The Carolina Panthers proved something during a long night that featured almost no starters and plenty of not-sogood football: Their junior varsity is better than that of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

John Kasay kicked his fifth field goal on the final play of the game, a 29-yarder that finished an unbeaten Carolina preseason and a winless one for Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh as the Panthers won 15-13 Thursday night.

Cedric Humes scored the game's only touchdown with less than four minutes to play to give the Steelers their only lead on a night they rested nearly all of their regulars. But the Panthers drove from their 20 in the final two minutes to win it.

''I thought we played well, we just couldn't get into the end zone,'' said backup quarterback Brett Basanez, who led the decisive drive.