PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – This time Pitt did it. There were struggles early; you could feel the apprehension at Heinz Field. Falling behind 7-0, Pitt would score 21 straight ending in a 27-17 win against Clemson.
Fans had to be thinking about previous opportunities
· 2020-after a 3-0 start, a one-point loss to NC State
· 2016-after a win against Penn State, a seven-point loss at Oklahoma State
· 2015-6-1 start to the season followed by a prime-time loss at home by seven to North Carolina
· 2009-9-1 start with consecutive losses to West Virginia by three and home to Cincinnati by a point.
"Couldn't be prouder of our football team," said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. "Just going out and playing like they did, that's a good football team that they beat today. Probably should have beat them by another 14 to be honest with you."
"Signature win for Pitt. We talked about that and they got it done."
Two big plays when the Tigers led 7-0 in the first half, after a Lucas Krull fumble, the Panthers defense forced a punt. Middle of the second half, Clemson tailback Will Shipley got behind the defense and dropped a perfect throw DJ Uiagalelei. That would have made it 14-0; however Pitt got it back trailing by a score.
Panthers would drive 90 yards in 13 plays with four, third down conversions, the last a 23-yard TD from Kenny Pickett to Jordan Addison. Pitt missed the extra point, but Clemson was offsides and Sam Scarton made the second opportunity, 7-7.
After a three-and-out by Clemson, Panthers would go 76 yards on nine plays ending with a 39-yard touchdown from Pickett to Taysir Mack on a fourth down from the Clemson 39, 14-7 Panthers.
"I saw the coverage that we had," Pickett said. "It was a great call by (Offensive Coordinator Mark) Whipple and Taysir ran a great route. It was one of those plays; pre-snap I knew I had it. So I just had to make sure I didn't overthrow because he was so wide open."
First drive of the second half after the Panthers missed-out on recovering a fumble on the third play. Four plays later, Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis intercepted a shovel pass, and went untouched 50 yards to make it 21-7.
"To be honest, I'm going to set it straight here," Dennis said. "I was in the right place at the right time. It was a great play call by Coach (Randy) Bates. That play put me in that position to be at that spot."
Dennis went untouched to the end zone with no one around him.
"My main thought was to not fall," Dennis said. "During Fall camp I had a pick & I was running and close to the touchdown and I fell. I was like 'man if I ever get this chance again in Heinz Field, I know not to fall'. Just running all alone, I'm like 'please don't fall, please don't fall'. The whole time."
"There was a little momentum there, a big-time play," Narduzzi said. "Put their quarterback on the bench. That was a turning point, I think."
Sophomore kicker Sam Scarton kept the momentum going with a 44-yard and a 34-yard field goal in the second half. The first-year kicker from Mercer County is now 6 for 6 in field goals this eason.
Pickett would go 25 of 39 for 302 yards and the two touchdowns. Addison, who missed the second half in concussion protocol, five receptions for 84 yards, Mack with three for 59 yards. True freshman Rodney Hammond, Jr. rushed for 66 yards.
"I'm made for big games," Hammond, Jr. said. "No team is going to intimidate me. I'm not scared of nobody."
"He was next man up," Pickett said of Hammond after the injury to running back Israel Abanikanda. "He had fresh legs. For a true freshman to come in there and do what he did. He did a heck of a job."
Abanikanda nine carries for 56 yards as Pitt totaled 464 yards against the number two defense in the nation.
Thirteen Panthers had multiple tackles, five tackles for loss and six pass breakups. Damarri Mathis had an interception in the first quarter to stop a Clemson drive.
"Personally, it felt really good to me," Mathis said of the win. "I really wanted to play this game. I didn't like how they did us last year. How arrogant they were."
Pitt now 6-1 overall, 3-0 in the ACC.
"It's really a player-led team," Pickett said. "We are playing to win, not playing to not lose. We are playing aggressive."
It wasn't a sellout, but 60,594 came within a few thousand of filling the stadium.
"It was just great," Mathis said. "We got a false start because our fans were so loud. That's big. That helps out in games like this."
"I want to thank the crowd," Narduzzi said. "They were outstanding. That Panther Pit, I don't know if I've seen them like that. I couldn't be prouder of our football team. Couldn't be happier with the City of Pittsburgh and what they did for us today. We need them to come out next week against Miami."
Up Next
Another pre-season top 25 team that struggled early in the season. Miami at Heinz Field for a noon kick Saturday on 93.7 The Fan. Panthers preview begins at 9a on Halloween Eve.
