PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Make it eight years in a row under head coach Pat Narduzzi that Pitt has beaten a Top 25 team, Saturday night it was against 14th ranked and unbeaten Louisville, final 38-21. The highest ranked team Pitt has beaten since 2017 against second-ranked Miami.
Panthers forced a trio of turnovers leading to 14 points and had its most points scored against an FBS team this season. Christian Veilleux made his first career college start went 12 of 26 for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Panthers offense was outgained 444 to 290 yards, but held the Cardinals to zero for four on fourth down.
Here is a recap of the scoring
1st TD
His first touchdown pass as a Panther was also the first Pitt completion of the game. After three consecutive three-and-outs, Rodney Hammond had the first, first down of the game on an 18-yard run. Veilleux play-action pass to Bub Means that dropped into his gut at the goal line for a 46-yard touchdown. It's the fourth touchdown pass of Veilleux's career and touchdowns in back-to-back games for Means, catching a 75-yard TD from Phil Jurkovec at Virginia Tech. (7-7)
2nd TD
The drive started as freshman defensive lineman Sam Okunlola's trifecta got the ball for Pitt. One second-and-ten, Okunlola came around the end for of Jack Plummer, forcing and fumble and then recovering it. Veilleux had another splash play in the second touchdown drive. A throw deep down the right side was underthrown, but freshman Kenny Johnson was able to make the adjustment for a 34-yard reception. C'Bo Flemister able to power it in from the one-yard-line on first-and-goal. It's also the second straight game for Flemister with a TD. (14-14)
FG
Bengally Kamara and Jules stuffed Maurice Turner on fourth-and-one at the Cardinals 34-yard line. Ben Sauls would make a 46-yard FG and is now five-for-eight on the season. (21-17 Louisville)
3rd TD
A fourth-and-one conversion by Flemister kept the drive alive as Veilleux also completed a two-yard pass to Konata Mumpfield on third-and-one and a 15-yard pass to Johnson on third-and-four. Veilleux also had an 11-yard run on an RPO to get the ball to the three-yard line before Flemister rushed for his second touchdown from three yards out. It was a 13 play-61-yard drive in 6:44.
(24-21 Pitt)
4th TD
The longest Pitt interception return for a touchdown since 1997 as Plummer threw a second-down pass right to MJ Devonshire at the Panthers 14-yard line. Devonshire went untouched for his third career interception return for an 86-yard touchdown. (31-21 Pitt)
5th TD
Panthers got the ball after the third, fourth down stop at the Louisville 36. After three running plays, Narduzzi decided to go for it on fourth-and-five as Veilleux threw a touchdown pass to Mumpfield from 31 yards away. (38-21 Pitt)
Up Next
Panthers go back on the road for the next pair starting at Wake Forest at 3:30 on October 21 on 93.7 The Fan.
