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.
“Obviously it wasn't pretty,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. “It was ugly weather day. Weather delay, the whole deal. Couldn't be more proud of our football team. I think that was a big-time team win. All three phases found ways to get their job done.”
“We lived for those moments for the game to be on us,” said linebacker Braylan Lovelace. “That's just what we do as a Pitt defense. We want the game to be on us at all times.”
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. Narduzzi called it a manly run.
“It was my O line,” Ferguson explained. “Without them guys, without them giving me the extra push I wouldn't have been able to get in there. So I thank my O line for that one.”
BTW-Narduzzi explained after the game that starting tailback Ja’Kyrian Turner was dealing with something minor, and that’s why he didn’t play Saturday. There is a chance for him to go on Thursday against Syracuse.
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 4th down.
“Let's be great and win the game,” said Pitt corner Raion Strader, a Penn Hills HS grad. “That was it -- let's be great and win the game. You know, defense wins championships. At the end of the day we wanted to be on that situation.”
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.
“Stellar. Stellar,” Heintschel said of the defense. “They worked their tails off. It always sucks when you can't really get anything going offensively. We can't punch it in. You feel bad for the defense. But they just went out there and gritted it out. And that's all you can ask for from our defense.”
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.
“I had a little read on the run,” Lovelace said. “And I just kept going and ended up sacking the quarterback.”
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
Tough weather
After seven touchdown passes in the opener, Heintschel didn’t have any against UCF and admitted the conditions were a big reason.
“Made it tough to throw the football for sure,” Heintschel said. “I felt like just about every time I caught the snap, it was soaking wet in my hand. I don't have the biggest hands in the world (to which Pat Narduzzi said he may need two gloves like Kenny Pickett used). That doesn't really help a whole lot.”
“But kudos to the offensive line for just staying in it and putting their heads down and gritting it through. Wide receivers did a great job blocking on the perimeter, and running backs really took care of the football. That's all you can ask for in weather like this is not having any turnovers. They did a great job of that. So proud of those guys, for sure.
Punter love
“(Punter) Gabe Russo had a heck of a day,” Narduzzi said. “You think about special teams, that one punt that was high and a little high snap, he snagged that thing in the weather. You're not a real -- no disrespect to Gabe -- he ain't an athlete, right, you think about receivers and quarterbacks catching a snap. But punters catching it, fired up, should give him a lot of confidence back there as far as just getting his job done.”
“So nice job by him. Again, he got another, was it two inside the 10-yard line? I think he might have dropped two inside the 10. I mean, those are big plays which gives your defense a chance in a coming-out situation.”
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 3rd and 7, La’Vell Wright 9-yard run on 4th 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 3rd and 5 and a 4-yard run by Ferguson on 3rd and 2. 12-0 Pitt
- Barnett 19-yard TD pass to Waden Charles on 3rd 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.
Panthers defense makes stop to end game
Panthers defense makes stop to end game
