Vincent Davis carries Pitt to 34-20 victory over Georgia Tech.
Irregular season closes but Panthers strengthen bid for berth in a bowl
ATLANTA — Less than a mile from Bobby Dodd Stadium is the College Football Hall of Fame, where 23 former Pitt players and coaches are recognized.
Pop Warner, who led Pitt against John Heisman’s Georgia Tech in the flu pandemic 102 years ago, has a display dedicated to his impact on the sport. An interactive touch screen details the accomplishments of Tony Dorsett, Bill Fralic, Dan Marino and the Panthers’ other inductees. There’s even a blue and yellow flag from Pitt’s 1980 season hanging in a glass case with memorabilia from years past.
In the future, perhaps there will be a section of the museum set aside for 2020 — a season players, coaches and programs pushed for and played ( some successfully, others unsuccessfully), but one hampered by COVID-19.
A 20-minute walk from where that exhibit might one day open, Pitt and Georgia Tech finished their versions of this odd and trying regular season. The Panthers won a game that was supposed to be played in November, 34-20, Thursday night at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Pitt avoided a losing record in the process and moved to 6-5 in a season that might not be finished. The Panthers could end up 7-5 or 6-6 if they accept a bowl invitation, should it come.
Pat Narduzzi’s squad didn’t need to be above .500 to qualify for the postseason after the NCAA waived those win requirements. Still, a bid is more realistic now that Pitt earned a third win in its final four ACC games.
The Panthers’ triumph wasn’t
pretty. But without a few key figures, it was never going to be.
Senior starters Damar Hamlin and Rashad Weaver didn’t travel with the team due to “personal reasons,” a team spokesperson told the Post-Gazette. Weaver, a potential first-round pick, reportedly signed with an agent earlier this week, choosing to focus on his NFL future. Hamlin, a projected midround pick, has not signed with an agent yet, but chose not to play for similar reasons, a source told the Post-Gazette.
All told, Pitt had to deal defensively without six preseason starters: Hamlin; Weaver; defensive tackle Keyshon Camp, who didn’t travel; safety Paris Ford, who opted out in October; cornerback Damarri Mathis, who suffered a season-ending injury in August; and linebacker Wendell Davis, who missed all but one game this year.
Meanwhile, zero players were absent due to COVID-19 protocols after 16 missed senior day on Nov. 21 and five were out at Clemson two weeks ago. The Panthers finished this improbable regular season without an absence in six of 11 games.
After missing three starters on its offensive line the past two games, Pitt had its full complement of blockers against Georgia Tech’s soft front. That made it a little easier for the second-worst rushing attack in the ACC to get in a groove.
Sophomore running back Vincent Davis popped for a career game, gaining 247 yards on 25 carries. Davis, who dashed for a 61-yard score in last year’s meeting at Bobby Dodd Stadium, broke off Pitt’s longest run of the season yet again. This time, it was a 74-yarder through the heart of Georgia Tech’s defense on the game’s first snap.
Pitt had to settle for a field goal on that opening drive, which became a theme for Mark Whipple’s offense if it wasn’t already. The Panthers had eight drives end at or inside Georgia Tech’s 12 — and all they had to show for it was a trio of touchdowns.
Alex Kessman booted four field goals with distances of 27, 25, 30 and 22 yards. Kenny Pickett found DJ Turner on a 60-yard score in the second quarter. Pickett turned in a gutty performance on the ground, scrambling for his life on what seemed like every other play and polishing off a 12-play, third-quarter drive with a quarterback sneak score.
Pickett completed 17 of 34 passes for 196 yards in his final ACC action. It wasn’t a perfect performance from No. 8, but it didn’t need to be. Georgia Tech turned the ball over three times, and Pitt swatted away the Yellow Jackets’ late comeback.
Georgia Tech cut Pitt’s lead to 26-20 with six minutes to go, marching on a seven-play, 75-yard scoring series. The Yellow Jackets needed a stop to keep their upset bid as 6.5-point underdogs alive. But just as the Panthers did last year in Atlanta, they chewed clock on the ground. Only this time it was a different Davis.
A.J. Davis had the honors in 2019, and it was Vincent Davis this go-around, capping his wild night. The 5foot-8, 175-pounder carried it seven times as the clock waned and broke loose for a 38-yard touchdown run with two minutes to go to ice the win.
Pickett got to finish out his ACC career in the victory formation, followed in short order by hugs and a photo at midfield.
It’s been a weird college football season for everyone involved. And it’s not one that lived up to Pitt’s preseason expectations.
But a win in the finale is a win in the finale, and the Panthers will take it — with a possible 12th game ahead.