PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Turnovers. Huge mistakes Pitt couldn't overcome in losing to a one-win team that got its coach fired earlier in the week. Georgia Tech wins 26-21 at Acrisure Stadium Saturday night.
The costly mistakes led to 13 Yellow Jackets points and without the gifts, the offense wasn't doing much until late. All of the turnovers came in the second half.
"One of the big keys to victory was being plus in the turnover margin and we weren't," said Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi. "We were minus 3. Disappointing we had three turnovers in a row in the second half. Pretty much gave 'em the game with that."
The first came as Pitt seemingly was riding momentum from their late first half score. Driving into GT territory, senior Vincent Davis, who had gained 18 yards on the drive was stripped of the ball and it was returned to the Pitt 17. The defense would hold, but the 40-yard field goal by Gavin Stewart gave the Yellow Jackets a 9-7 lead.
Two series later on a third-and-six around midfield, Kedon Slovis tried to drill a pass into tight end Karter Johnson, but GT linebacker Charlie Thomas made a nice read and was able to win the battle for the ball. Georgia Tech would get it at the Pitt 49 and go 36 yards on nine plays for a 30-yard Stewart field goal, 12-7.
One the first play of the next Pitt possession, Davis fumbled again. Georgia Tech gets the ball at the Pitt 34 and punches this one in for a touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Jeff Sims to EJ Jenkins and a 19-7 lead.
Several dropped INT by Pitt
The Panthers had their chances for game-changing plays on defense. First play of the game, safety Erick Hallett dropped a likely Pick 6 after anticipating a throw by Sims. He would drop another interception on the next series. There were two others that could have been intercepted but weren't. There was a fumble by receiver Nate McCollum, but it ended up out-of-bounds.
"We just got to do a better job," said linebacker SirVocea Dennis. "I don't know what else to say. We just have to capitalize on every opportunity. We don't want to miss opportunities. If we miss opportunities, games like that happen."
"They're all big," Narduzzi said. "None of 'em were easy. But Tylar had a chance. Got his hand on it. Obviously 31, Erick Hallett had a chance. We got a chance to make plays. And in position."
"I mean, the first -- second play of the game I think we had a chance to probably get a pick six. You got to make those plays. They made 'em. They got the ball out. And we didn't make them. It doesn't matter if you stop them or hold them to a field goal. We have got to make plays on defense like that and we have to finish the play off and we can't turn the ball over."
Izzy Out
Tailback Israel Abanikanda suffered an undisclosed injury early in the second quarter. He would carry it seven more times, but then not return for the second half. Abanikanda had three straight 100-yard games and was a two-time ACC Running Back of the Week this season.
Late Rally
Entering the final drive of the first half, Slovis had completed two passes for a total of eight yards. The USC transfer would finish 26-45 for 305 yards and three touchdowns.
Doing nothing most of the first half, the Panthers offense went 75 yards in eight plays in 1:46 to take a 7-6 halftime lead. A touchdown pass of 29 yards to tight end Gavin Bartholomew finished the drive.
After a fumble, punt, interception, fumble and punt in the second half, Pitt would drive 99-yards in 1:54 as Slovis completed passes of 13, 20, 20, 15, 5 and a touchdown of 26 yards to Jaden Bradley to cut the Tech lead to 19-14.
The Yellow Jackets squashed that rally on a 63-yard run from Hassan Hall and 18-yard TD run by Sims.
Slovis would hit Bradley again from 18 yards on a one-minute drive to cut the lead to five with 16 seconds left. Georgia Tech recovered the on-sides kick.
"All our goals are still ahead of us," Narduzzi said. "I think it will make them a little hungrier. We have to take it. We have to take what we got, what we paid for, and it just wasn't good enough."
Notes
· The Pitt defense finished with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks
· Georgia Tech was 6 of 7 in the red zone
· Pitt never started a play in the red zone
· GT Hassan Hall rushed for 157 yards (7.9 per rush)
· GT LB Ayinde Eley finished with a game-high 13 tackles (2.5 TFL, 1 sack, forced fumble). Eley also ended the game recovering the on-sides kick
· Pitt leading tacklers LB SirVocea Dennis (11) and safety Brandon Hill (11)
· Pitt DL Calijah Kancey finished with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack
Those Who Returned
Several Pitt players who have missed time due to injury returned to the lineup as conference play began
· DL Haba Baldonado
· DL Deslin Alexandre
· TE Gavin Bartholomew
· WR Jared Wayne
Did Not Play
· LT Carter Warren
· LB Aiden Henningham
· LB Buddy Mack
· RB Rodney Hammond
· C Owen Drexel
· CB Rashad Battle (out for the season)
· DL Nate Temple (out for the season)
