Panthers forced to go ‘the hard way’ to win
4th-down miscues put defense to test
Most defensive coordinators will tell you the primary objective for their unit is to get off the field on third down. However, on Saturday afternoon, the only sense of security for Pat Narduzzi’s team came when the opponent had the football.
Despite ugly showings on offense and special teams, the Panthers defense delivered an effort dominant enough to lift the team as a whole to a 28-26 victory against Duke at Acrisure Stadium.
“Our guys found a way to win,” Narduzzi said following the game. “We did it the hard way. ”
Not only did the Pitt defense score the game’s winning score — which came early in the fourth quarter when Brandon Hill recovered a fumble forced by David Green and returned it 30-yards for a touchdown — it also made up for the rest of the team’s errors.
“It just shows who we are, what type of defense we are,” Hill said when asked about the group’s series of clutch plays in the fourth quarter. “It’s finally clicking. I’m just happy to be a part of it.”
While the Blue Devils (74, 4-3) reached the end zone four times in their loss, three of the touchdowns were set up by errors by Pitt (7-4, 4-3 ACC) on fourth down. A blocked punt in the first quarter set up the Duke offense in plus-territory for the first time on the day, which ended on a 28-yard touchdown connection between Riley Leonard and Jalon Calhoun.
The following quarter, a roughing call on 4th-and-8 gave new life to a Duke drive, allowing Leonard to march the Blue Devils down the field to score on a 1-yard run with 6:11 left in the half.
Late in the game, Duke received its third score after Pitt punter Caleb Junko allowed a long snap to slip between his hands for a fumble, setting up the Blue Devils with a chance to tie the game. And though Jaylen Coleman found the end zone on an 18-yard strike to make it a two-point game in the final minute, the Panthers defense had one final big play to provide, as SirVocea Dennis came up with a sack on the Blue Devils’ two-point-conversion attempt to secure the win.
Pitt’s offensive shortcomings came in the passing game, where Kedon Slovis
completed just 15 of his 32 attempts for 190 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. The Panthers were decent with the football in the first half, tallying 20 points thanks to touchdowns from Israel Abanikanda and Jared Wayne, along with two two field goals from Ben Sauls.
However, in the final two periods, the unit fell flat, accumulating just 132 yards and scoring no points.
“We just have to execute better,” Slovis said. “I think the other thing is we have to give coach the confidence to keep calling [passes], too. In
a game where we have two picks, I don’t blame him for not calling as many passes. We have to give him a chance to call it and we have to execute better.”
Abanikanda was the lone bright spot for Pitt’s offense in all four quarters of the win, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Key stat
Despite two costly interceptions in the beginning of the third quarter from Slovis, the Pitt defense refused to allow Duke to gain anything from its extra opportunities. The Blue Devils had no points off turnovers in the loss.
“It was big,” Narduzzi said. “We focus on sudden changes all the time. Our defense is playing at a high level. We made some stupid mistakes out there, which drive me nuts, but overall, what we were dealing with out there, I think [the defense] was on the field for 35 or 40 minutes, something like that, the defense did a good job. They stepped up and made some big plays.”
Quotable
As Pitt ran out of the tunnel and onto the field Saturday afternoon, cornerback Marquis Williams was seen carrying a custom made flag that was designed to show support to the University of Virginia and its football program as it continues to mourn the loss of three players who were shot and killed last weekend.
“We all had shirts for it, as well, remembering those three young men who didn’t deserve what they got last Sunday,” Narduzzi said. “It’s a shame. We stick with our brothers down there in Charlottesville.”
Athletic director Heather Lyke said associate AD Amy Anderson came up with the idea for the flag, which was designed by Pitt alum and former university employee, Patty Irrgang.
Up next
The Panthers will wrap up the regular season next weekend in the Sunshine State. Pitt will hit the road Saturday, Nov. 26, to face Miami at 8 p.m.
In their last matchup, Miami got the best of Pitt, defeating Narduzzi’s team at Acrisure Stadium in a 3834 shootout.
Saturday’s contest between Pitt and Miami will be televised on ACC Network.