Third-ranked Clemson stung by Pitt field goal

CLEMSON, S.C. — James Conner’s smile said it all. Pittsburgh was happy to again shuffle up the national championship picture.

“Hey, sorry to do that. But we wanted this one bad,” said Conner, who had two touchdowns and ran for 132 yards in the Panthers’ 43-42 stunner over No. 3 Clemson on Saturday.

Conner’s 20-yard touchdown with 5:17 to play inched the Panthers into striking range, and Chris Blewitt — after a kiss on the cheek from coach Pat Narduzzi — struck a perfect 48-yard field goal with six seconds left for the winning points.

“We’ll remember this one forever,” Conner said.

So, too, will Clemson (9-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) which saw its run at perfection halted after escaping so many other jams this season. A fourthdown stop a yard shy saved the Tigers’ 42-36 win over No. 5 Louisville on Oct. 1. North Carolina State’s missed field goal at the end of regulation boosted Clemson to a 24-17 overtime win.

This time, it was the Panthers (6-4, 3-3) who made the critical plays. When Clemson was driving for a touchdown already up 42-34, linebacker Saleem Brightwell picked off quarterback Deshaun Watson — his third interception — and returned it 70 yards to set up a 20yard TD by Conner that drew Pitt within 42-40.

When Clemson attempted to run out the clock, the Panthers defense (despite allowing 630 yards) stuffed Wayne Gallman a yard short on third and fourth downs to take over near midfield with 58 seconds left.

“We had a chance to put the game away and they stopped us,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. “We had been making those kinds of plays this year.”

Nathan Peterman moved Pitt to the Clemson 30 and Blewitt steadily knocked through.

It was Pitt’s highest-ranked win since defeating its Backyard Brawl rival, No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9 in 2007 and spoiling the Mountaineers’ chances at playing for the national title.

Peterman had a career-best five TD passes and 308 yards. Conner rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one of Peterman’s scoring throws.

Blewitt, who had a kick blocked at the end of the first half, was steely eyed and ready. Narduzzi gave his senior a kiss on the cheek and sent him out for the winning kick.

“As soon as I saw the kick go up, I knew it was going in,” Pitt tight end Scott Orndoff said. “It was jubilation.”