Pitt running game showing signs of life
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Pitt guards Bryce Hargrove and Jake Kradel flexed their muscles. Center Jimmy Morrissey threw his hands in the air, mirroring the side referee. And 280-pound fullback Rashad Wheeler, well, he did a little spin.
Pitt’s jumbo package was understandably excited with 4:53 to go in the second quarter of Friday night’s 27-20 win over Syracuse. Why exactly? Because the Panthers scored a rushing touchdown ... for the first time in 12 quarters.
Yes, A.J. Davis’ 5-yard rumble into the end zone was Pitt’s first rushing score since the first quarter of its win over Central Florida on Sept. 21. That was the longest active rushing touchdown drought in Power Five football.
Did Morrissey, Wheeler, Hargrove and Kradel know that when they lifted Davis off the turf and hugged him? Probably not. But Pitt was well-aware its run game was non-existent for pretty much the entire season — which made its presence Friday night worth celebrating.
“People doubt us about running the ball,” Davis said postgame. “So that’s a big chip on our shoulder.”
Now, Pitt finished with 145 rushing yards, by no means an astounding figure.
But when the rushing attack showed up, it mattered.
Davis, returning from injury after sitting out the last two weeks, had 103 yards on 16 carries.
The junior ran with patience and, when necessary, power. That was on display when he was hit at the line of scrimmage on third-and-2 on Pitt’s last series and pushed forward for the final first down.
Pass rush party
Jaylen Twyman, the Outland Trophy defensive player of the month in September, is a talented guy. His sack totals reflect that. But even Twyman needs some help here and there.
On a second down at midfield as halftime approached, Pitt linebacker Kylan Johnson blitzed up the “A” gap, forcing Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito to slide up in the pocket. There, Twyman waited for him.
“He stepped up right to me,” Twyman said smiling. “We were playing off of each other. We appreciate each other, and we’re like brothers.”
To a Pitt fan, that sounds lovely. To an opposing offensive line, not so much.
Pitt’s front-seven terrorized DeVito and later backup quarterback Clayton Welch, sacking Syracuse’s passers a total of nine times. Syracuse is kind of used to this now. The Orange allowed eight sacks to both NC State and Clemson this season.
Oh, and by the way: Miami entered this week with 28 sacks allowed ... the most in the country.
‘No reason for it’
The Panthers were penalized eight times for 79 yards on Friday, pushing their penalty count to 36 over their last three games. But one infraction stood out.
It’s fourth-and-25. You have a 14-point lead with four minutes to go. As much as prevent defense can be maddening, it’s useful situationally, and that was the situation to use it.
Instead, Pitt rushed four, dropped two linebackers near the line of scrimmage and allowed its corners to run stride-for-stride with Syracuse’s receivers. Dane Jackson was beat off the ball and was called for holding as he tried to catch up. Eight plays later, the Orange were in the end zone.
“There was no reason for it,” Narduzzi said of the penalty.
Trickeration
The ACC referees were, uhm, not great. At one point, they reviewed to see which down it was, third or fourth. Seriously. The officials also flagged a double-lateral trick play that 1) was legal and 2) ended in Aaron Mathews’ first career touchdown catch. The refs reviewed and reversed the decision.