PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It was more than just Pitt losing its starting quarterback at the end of the first half. The Panthers had so many opportunities they didn’t take advantage of leading to a first loss of the season, 34-27 in overtime at home against number 24 Tennessee.
“It was a heck of a football game against a good football team,” said Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. “As I told our guys it’s a game of inches and there were inches all over the place that we needed to get.”
QB Kedon Slovis blindsided as the Panthers tried to get into scoring position taking the ball over with 14 seconds left in the first half. Slovis would be slow to get up after fumbling the ball, but able to walk off the field. However, Slovis was unable to return after halftime. He had taken a couple of other shots earlier in the game.
His 18th appearance for the Panthers, Nick Patti would take over. He would tie the game with 2:23 to go with a four-yard, fourth down touchdown pass to Jared Wayne. This after a few plays earlier he suffered a leg injury which hobbled him for the rest of the game. He would finish 9 of 20 for 79 yards, however his ability to run was mostly taken away after the injury.
“His mobility was not what we wanted it to be that’s for sure,” Narduzzi said of the Patti injury. “Nick can run and that handcuffed Frank (Cignetti) a little bit.”
“He was hurting,” said Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew. “I didn’t know what happened. There were some plays where he could hardly walk. Shout out to him for fighting through it.”
Narduzzi said it didn’t get close to him replacing Patti, calling him a fighter.
“Nick’s a tough son-of-a-gun, we have a lot of faith in him,” Narduzzi said. “He took some great shots out there. Nick played well.”
Graduate transfer Derek Kyler would have been the third-string quarterback. The Dartmouth grad was quickly taking snaps and throwing passes on the sidelines, but never entered the game.
OT
Tennessee scored on the third play over overtime, overcoming a holding penalty as Cedric Tillman caught the 28-yard touchdown from Hendon Hooker to give the Vols the lead after the Panthers won the toss and elected to play defense.
Pitt converted a fourth and seven on a 10-yard slant to Konata Mumpfield. However, the Vols sacked Patti for a 12-yard loss and his fourth down desperation pass fell incomplete.
Blown Opportunities
There were several missed chances for the Panthers in Saturday night’s game.
· The first on the first drive when Mumpfield dropped a slant on 2nd and 7 that likely would have been a 1st down inside the 10-yard line, Panthers settled for a field goal
· Likely to at least add another field goal, a ball hit off the hands of Bub Means in the back of the end zone and intercepted, meaning not only no points, but momentum for the Vols. They would drive 80 yards for a first score
· Fourth and three at the Tennessee 27, Panthers go for it and Slovis is sacked
· 14 seconds to play in the first half, Slovis back to pass and blindsided, fumbles leading to an end of first half Tennessee field goal
· Holding on Jared Wayne negated a rollout TD run by Patti, Pitt settled for a field goal
· The two missed field goals by Ben Sauls, both in the second half, one of 46 yards on the opening drive of the third quarter and the other 36 yards after a PJ O’Brien punt block (Narduzzi said he still believes in Sauls going forward)
“You talk about a football game, it was back and forth,” Narduzzi said. “Our kids played hard, made some plays and didn’t make some plays. No excuses, we need to find a way to win.”
“All of our goals are ahead of us. It’s a non-conference game.”
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Remembering Cignetti
Narduzzi said they found out at 11a Saturday morning that Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti’s father, Frank, Senior passed away. Cignetti, Junior would remain with the team and coach Saturday.
“As you think about sacrifices, this is the game of football and there are so many other games in life,” Narduzzi said. “The sacrifice that he made sitting here and saying there was no doubt he was going to coach the game. Our prayers to his family, just a sad, sad deal.”