PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was the first City Game since 1939 and while at one point the score was 20-6 in the second quarter, the Panthers would take control from there for a 61-9 win over Duquesne Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
Acrisure history was made, Eli threw for four scores, Kyle Louis with back-to-back sacks—the big moments from the season opener.
Stadium history
Last year a First-Team All-American as a kick returner and getting similar attention in his second year at Pitt, Desmond Reid took his first touch 88 yards to make Acrisure Stadium history, college or pro. Reid broke free up the middle for a punt return touchdown, the longest ever on this field.
Reid would take his first touch of the second half 53 yards, this time a straight run sprinting past the Duquesne defense to put the Panthers up 34.
Holstein returns
Missing most of the second half of the 2024 season, quarterback Eli Holstein returned to Acrisure Stadium and after an early interception threw four touchdown passes for 215 yards completing 15 of 23 attempts. He was able to use his legs to keep plays alive and also was Pitt’s second leading rusher with seven carries for 41 yards. He converted a couple of fourth days including a 16-yard read option to keep a touchdown drive alive.
4th down
After a three-and-out on the first drive, Pitt football converted a couple of fourth downs on its second possession to make it 14-0 in the first quarter. It was a read-option run by quarterback Eli Holstein to the left for 16 yards to keep the drive alive and then on fourth down at the four-yard line, Holstein finds first-year Panther Blue Hicks in the middle of the end zone.
Blue Saturday
A transfer from Louisville, Cataurus ‘Blue’ Hicks joked as he arrived that he needed to come to a school with the color blue in its uniform. He immediately made an impact with two of his three catches for scores including a one-handed, 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone with 48 seconds left in the first half. It’s Hicks first touchdowns since he played high school in Miami. He would finish with four catches for 55 yards as Pitt’s leading receiver.
Louis backs it up
A preseason First-Team All-American, redshirt junior linebacker Kyle Louis showed up early with consecutive sacks late in the first quarter. The first he dropped Duquesne quarterback Tyler Riddell for a 14-yard loss and the next play, after a Dukes timeout, a sack for an 8-yard loss. Louis would lead all Pitt tacklers with six including three for loss despite resting most of the second half.
Kenny time
He said he wanted to be a leader for the receiving corps this year, Kenny Johnson had a couple of key catches including the touchdown finishing with four receptions for 47 yards. He was also a spark on special teams with a 78-yard kickoff return that set up a touchdown and three punt returns for 64 yards.
Cole Welcome
A transfer from Western Carolina where he worked with Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell, back-up quarterback Cole Gonzales was allowed to chuck it deep and found freshman Bryce Yates for a 60-yard touchdown.