PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Tony Dorsett, Curtis Martin, Shady McCoy, James Conner—none ever rushed for as many yards or touchdowns at Pitt in a single-game than Israel Abanikanda. The junior’s 320-yard, record-setting day leading the Panthers to a 45-29 win over Virginia Tech Saturday.
With a six-yard rush in the fourth quarter, Abanikanda passed the legendary Dorsett’s monster game against Notre Dame in 1975 and his six rushing touchdowns tied a record held since 1910.
No player in the history of the ACC ever rushed for six touchdowns in a conference game, until Izzy on Saturday. The first Power Five player to rush for over 300 yards and six touchdowns in a game since Texas’ Ricky Williams in 1998. He was the first to rush for six TDs against the Hokies since Miami’s Willis McGahee in 2002.
It was more than just the records, there were a couple of plays that changed the course of the game.
The Hokies had run off 16 straight points and a promising Panthers drive looked like it was going to fizzle into a field goal attempt. Israel Abanikanda caught in the backfield on Virginia Tech penetration, the junior fights through the tackle and explodes to go 17 yards as the Panthers not only pulled within two.
The momentum of that play would lead to 17 more consecutive points, the two touchdowns scored by Abanikanda.
The Brooklyn native would spark Pitt again after Dan Morgan forced a fumble (recovered by Shayne Simon) following a Virginia Tech third-down conversion. First play of the drive with 11:14 to play in the game and the Panthers now up two, Abanikanda burst left-side for 29 yards. A frustrated Hokies defense would late hit him out-of-bounds to move the ball to the 10-yard line. Next play, Abanikanda went the final 10 yards for a fifth touchdown.
Abanikanda rushed for nearly double as many yards as quarterback Kedon Slovis threw for (170). He’s run for 830 yards in just five games and only had eight carries against WVU and 10 versus Georgia Tech.
The Panthers are idle next weekend and play at Louisville on October 22.