PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pitt announced as the game started that tailback Israel Abanikanda would not likely play. By far their most consistent offensive player, yet others picked up the slack and the defense came up big in a 19-9 upset over 20th ranked Syracuse.
Early on in the game the Panthers (5-4, 2-3) leaned on sophomore Rodney Hammond, Jr. and then on a key drive in the third quarter it was all C'Bo Flemister as the Panthers beat a ranked time for the sixth straight season under Pat Narduzzi.
It was Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) that scored first but what became a theme of the game, the defense limited the damage. After Hammond set up Pitt deep in Orange territory, Kedon Slovis under pressure and tried to throw it away but it was intercepted in the end zone. Syracuse converted a pair of third downs, but on third and goal from the one-yard line, Brandon Hill and Shayne Simon stuffed Sean Tucker for a four-yard loss. Andre Szmyt would hit a 24-yard field goal for a 3-0 Syracuse lead.
Slovis hit Jared Wayne for a key 24-yarder and Konata Mumpfield for five yards on 3rd and 5. Hammond converted a 3rd and 4 on an eight-yard run and then finished it with a six-yard touchdown. 7-3 Pitt early in the second quarter.
Orange would take advantage of a personal foul on the punt and a 31-yard completion, but again Pitt's defense held. A 48-yard field goal made is 7-6.
Panthers would move it 45 yards in the last minute of the first half ending in a Ben Sauls 43-yard field goal and a 10-6 halftime lead. Slovis threw for 50 yards and scrambled for another four in the drive.
The Pitt defense owned much of the second half. As the Orange tried to get something going, the Panthers shut the door. Key plays in the second half
· Wilson sacked by SirVocea Dennis and Deslin Alexandre on the first third down
· Wilson held to a two-yard scramble on 3rd and 6
· Wilson sacked by Calijah Kancey on the next third down
· Alexandre caused incompletion on third down, Orange missed field goal
· Next possession, a pair of tackles for loss (Simon) and (Alexandre, sack)
· Following a drive into Pitt territory, the Syracuse native Dennis sacked Wilson on a 3rd and 10
· Alexandre would finish the game with a safety of Wilson and a 19-9 final.
The Pitt defense would finish with six sacks and nine tackles for loss in the only game Syracuse played this year without scoring a touchdown. The senior Alexandre had 2.5 sacks, a pass breakup and seven tackles. Dennis had eight tackles, a forced fumble and a sack.
Flemister would finish with 42 yards rushing, all in one drive. He hadn't carried the ball since the Georgia Tech game, but had runs of two, 11, 13, six, two, three (3rd and 2), four and one yard for the touchdown. Slovis also mixed in a 23-yard pass to Wayne, who finished with 102 yards receiving.
Hammond finished with a career-high 124 yards and his first TD since the West Virginia game. Slovis 16 of 23 for 176 yards, Mumpfield six receptions on six targets for 59 yards (56 yards after catch).
Up Next
Panthers on the road at Virginia at noon on November 12, pregame at 9a on 93.7 The Fan.
