PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Trailing 14-0 early and losing your starting quarterback, Pitt battled through adversity and watched a 36-yard potential Virginia Tech winning field goal go wide left to win 35-33 at Virginia Tech and improve to 5-0 on the season.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our football team, never gave up,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi told Dorin Dickerson on 93.7 The Fan. “We talk about dealing with adversity all the time. We had 70,000 fans against ya and our kids didn’t bat an eye. It shows we have a tough football team and a team that believes in each other.
How it went down
The Hokies went 76 yards on four plays and then 77 yards on six plays while the Panthers had three consecutive three-and-outs to begin the game. Everything, seemingly was going against Pitt. They got a first, first down in its fourth series of the game as Mason Heintschel hit Blue Hicks for 12 yards, then 30 to Bryce Yates and Ja’Kyrian Turner, in his first game of the season, went 20 yards for a first TD.
Following a 26-yard Virginia Tech field goal, Panthers went 10 plays, 75 yards helped by a few penalties when La’Vell Wright punches it in from one yard and its 17-14. Ethan Grunkemeyer throws a 22-yard TD and gets the ball back, but Aliquippa HS star Cam Lindsey rips an interception away late in the first half giving Pitt the ball deep in VT territory. Heintschel finds Blue Hicks from 22 yards and Panthers trail 24-21 at half.
Panthers take the first drive of the second half for a touchdown, 15 yards by Damon Ferguson to finish it. HOWEVER, the Panthers lost Heintschel to a right knee injury as he dove for a first down. Heintschel was hit on that knee and wouldn’t return. Heintschel would return to the sidelines later in the game on crutches.
Holden Geriner came in at quarterback. He played in three games with Texas State last year with only a few snaps. Geriner spent his first three seasons at Auburn completing nine career passes for 116 yards.
Panthers survived with the lead forcing a couple of turnovers and overcoming a bad snap on a field goal attempt. On the second turnover, Geriner threw a perfect pass deep to an open Hicks for a 29-yard TD. The first of the graduate student’s college career.
The momentum would turn after a Pitt interception. Shawn Lee, Junior picked off Grunkemeyer on the three-yard line. On the second play of the series tailback Damon Ferguson was tackled in the end zone for a safety. Jeff Overton returned the ensuing free kick 62 yards and Grunkemeyer threw a 28-yard TD to cut the Panthers lead to 35-33.
The Hokies appeared to be heading to a comeback win, driving down the field converting at 3rd and 2, then a perfect throw from Grunkemeyer to star tight end Luke Reynolds for 23 yards on 4th and 5. Virginia Tech ran a couple of plays to get the clock to three seconds and the ball on the right hash for a 36-yard field goal attempt.
John Love missed it and the Panthers move to 5-0.
Immediately after the game it’s unknown how long Heintschel will miss with North Carolina at Acrisure Stadium Saturday, October 10 at noon. The game is already sold out. 93.7 The Fan coverage starts next Saturday with Pat Bostick and the Panthers Insider Show at 8a.
Mason Heintschel injured as Pitt moves to 5-0
Mason Heintschel injured as Pitt moves to 5-0
