PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – The ACC Network sideline reporter Rocky Boiman said the Panther bench was listless after a fumble return for a touchdown to make it 20-3 Florida State in the first half. The officials overturned the call to an incomplete pass and then Pitt soon overturned the lead for a 41-17 win at Florida State.
"I'm proud of our football team for how they continue fight," said head coach Pat Narduzzi, who also said they have a character football team. "That first quarter was a rough quarter and things could have just fell in and collapsed. We talked about just playing together and keeping the faith."
Three plays after the reversal, sophomore corner AJ Woods, subbing for the suspended Jason Pinnock, intercepted Jordan Travis. In his first game back from an ankle injury, Kenny Pickett hit Jordan Addison for 26 yards and Nick Patti snuck it in from a yard out and the 17-point deficit turned into 4.
Defense stepped up again as Patrick Jones had one of the seven Panther sacks on a 4th and 6. John Morgan with another on second down of the next series and off that punt, Pitt went 41 yards with Nick Patti scoring again and a 17-14 lead.
Rashad Weaver with a tackle for loss on 4th and 2 on the proceeding drive gave the Panthers the ball at the Florida State 47. Three plays later, Pickett ran it in from 10 yards out and after a late field goal its 24-17 Panthers at half.
"This week that was a big emphasis we had, bring the swag back to our defense," said linebacker SirVocea Dennis. "Be ourselves, have fun. That's what I feel like we did out there."
Senior Damar Hamlin intercepted backup quarterback James Blackman, Vincent Davis would finish that from 4 yards, 31-17.
"I don't know how many short fields we had, but I feel like we did a really good job of capitalizing on the short fields they gave us," Pickett said. "I think we played our best game of complimentary football."
A 19-yard Alex Kessman field goal and then Paris Ford's replacement, redshirt freshman Brandon Hill, returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to make it 41-17.
"Brandon Hill is a football player, you watch him run, you watch him tackle," Narduzzi said. "I think I told you three weeks ago I feel like Brandon Hill is a starter period. He's a guy we felt like could make a lot of plays and he did that today."
Kenny Pickett's return was such a success, he didn't have to play the final series of the game. Pickett finished 21-27, 210 yards and a 143.1 quarterback rating.
Jordan Addison had 11 catches for 127 yards. Hill, Woods and Dennis each had a team-high 7 tackles. Dennis had a pair of sacks and 3 of the 14 team tackles for loss.
"We put it all together today and that was a complete team win," Narduzzi said.
Narduzzi said he expects Pinnock back for Saturday at Georgia Tech, he wasn't sure about receiver Taysir Mack.
