Pitt endures delayed, rainy game to move to 2-0

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A game delayed an hour and five minutes and played in a steady rain in the second half, Pitt improved to 2-0 with a 12-7 win over UCF Saturday afternoon into evening at Acrisure Stadium, as the Panthers held on after a late Knights charge.

QB Mason Heintschel was able to make a couple of plays and freshman tailback Damon Ferguson carried Knights into the end zone for the only Panthers touchdown. While not gaudy numbers, 319 total yards, Panthers controlled time of possession 38:04-21:56.

After 59 points in the Week 1 win, it was the Pitt defense that carried the load including a sack by DeMarco Ward and Jeremiah Marcelin to end UCF’s last chance on 4^th down.

The Pitt D limited UCF to 206 yards (64 yards on the late scoring drive), 20 on the ground (on 22 carries) after UCF rushed for over 300 yards in its opening week win. Pitt even scored on defense with a safety in the second quarter.

2-pointer

In the second quarter, Pitt recorded its first safety since November 23, 2024. On a second down at the Pitt four-yard line, UCF QB Alonza Barnett III went back to pass in what appeared to be a broken play from the start, facing pressure in the end zone, Barnett threw it away as Panthers LB Braylan Lovelace was about to sack him. There was no eligible receiver in the area resulting in an intentional grounding in the end zone which counts as a sack for Lovelace and a safety for the team and a 5-0 lead. Lovelace was also involved in that previous safety, sharing a tackle in the end zone against Louisville with Rasheem Biles.

Field flipping

• Pitt’s first 4 drives, the average starting field position was its own 10.5 yard line
• The next 5 drives, the average starting field position was its own 43-yard line

Scoring drives

• Antonio Chadha 28-yard FG after 18-play, 83-yard drive, 7:03, it included a 17-yard completion from Heintschel to Bryce Yates on 3^rd and 7, La’Vell Wright 9-yard run on 4^th and 1 3-0 Pitt
• Safety intentional grounding by Braylan Lovelace 5-0 Pitt
• Ferguson 13-yard TD run on 7-play, 44-yard drive, 2:32, a big 14-yard completion from Heintschel to Ferguson on 3^rd and 5 and a 4-yard run by Ferguson on 3^rd and 2. 12-0 Pitt
• Barnett 19-yard TD pass to Waden Charles on 3^rd and 14 (9 plays, 64 yards, 3:54). UCF overcame an 18-yard loss on a fumble by the QB

Stats

• Mason Heintschel 18-29, 212 yards, 13 rushing yards
• Damon Ferguson 20 carries, 63 yards, TD, 3 receptions, 27 yards
• La’Vell Wright 13 carries, 35 yards, 2 receptions, 28 yards
• Blue Hicks 3 receptions, 64 yards
• Bryce Yates 2 catches, 27 yards
• Josh Guerrier 7 tackles
• Braylan Lovelace 6 tackles, sack, tackle for loss
• Cruce Brookins 5 tackles, pass breakup
• Zach Crothers 2 pass breakups

Up Next

Quick turnaround for the Panthers with Syracuse at Acrisure Stadium Thursday night. Panthers pregame starts at 4:30 with kickoff at 7:30 with the Voice of the Panthers Bill Hillgrove, Pat Bostick, Dorin Dickerson and Johnny Petrishen on 93.7 The Fan.