PITTSBURGH, PA–In 2021, the Pitt Panthers created a stir when they beat the Tennessee Volunteers 41-34 in the hostile environment at Neyland Stadium in the first game of the Johnny Majors Classic, which honors the former Pitt and Tennessee head coach. The expectation of the defending ACC Champions was that they would also beat Tennessee in front of their own hostile environment at Acrisure Stadium.
To quote the Legendary Mick Jagger: “You can’t always get what you want.”
The Panthers endured injuries to starting QB Kedon Slovis and several others but still fought to get the game into Overtime. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Volunteers were able to pull off a 34-27 victory. QB Hendon Hooker’s 28-yard TD pass to WR Cedric Tillman were the winning points for Tennessee, who improved their record to 2-0 on the season. Pitt falls to 1-1.
“It was a heck of a football game versus a good football team,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi “I think when it comes down to it, I told our guys, it’s a game of inches, and there were inches all over the place that we needed to get.”
The injuries weren’t the only things to hurt the Panthers, as they indeed missed several scoring opportunities, especially in the first half where they led 10-0 after a field goal by K Ben Sauls and a 76-yard TD run by Israel Abanikanda. After the Volunteers got on the board, the Panthers struck again when Slovis found TE Gavin Bartholomew for a 57-yard TD (after hurdling his defender). It appeared that the Panthers would score again, but Slovis made his only passing mistake of the game when he threw an interception into the end zone. That was the last Panthers TD until late in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, Sauls’ 2 missed FGs also hurt the Panthers.
“I really thought our players played their tail off. That’s what I told them. You talk about a football game. There was back-and-forths,” said Narduzzi. “We made improvements from Week 1 to Week 2 without a question. Win, lose, doesn’t matter. I knew that would be the factor. Our kids played hard. Made some plays, and didn’t make some plays. We missed two field goals. Probably don’t go into overtime if we can make one of them, as you guys know. Tough. One was a 46-yarder. It’s a long one. He came back and made one critical one in the fourth quarter.”
Slovis would then get injured at the end of the first half. Enter Nick Patti, who was able to get the Panthers into scoring range on several occasions but couldn’t generate those drives into points. Meanwhile, the Volunteers got the needed points thanks to 2 TDs by RB Jabari Small’s 2 TDs. Hooker (27/42, 325 yards, 2 TDs) also found WR Bru McCoy for a TD. Tillman led all WRs with 9 receptions for 162 yards.
Before his injury, Slovis went 14/24 for 195 yards, a TD, and an interception. In relief, Patti went 9/20 for 79 yards, and his 4-yard TD pass to WR Jared Wayne allowed Pitt to bounce back from trailing most of the 2nd half. Abanikanda had a superb game as he rushed for a career-high 154 yards on 14 carries.
When asked about Slovis’ injury, Narduzzi replied, “I’m not going to disclose injuries and what happened, what we got, but I saw Kedon in there, and he feels good.”
The Panthers also caused several turnovers as PJ O’Brien blocked a punt, and Erik Hallett II and Byron Floyd each recovered 2 fumbles apiece.
When asked about the 2nd half performance of the defense, Narduzzi replied, “Unbelievable. I don’t know what they had in regulation, but I think last year, when you look at what we did to them defensively, I think Coach Bates, the defensive staff, and those defensive players played their hearts out. That is a tough offense with a tempo, and they started off with probably three three-and-outs. We’ve got to be more consistent. We would like to get 15 three-and-outs. I know that’s not really, but they did a heck of a job really for four quarters.”
The Panthers must now learn from this loss and prepare for another non-conference rematch at Western Michigan, the team that upset them 44-41 at home last season.
“No excuses. We’ve got to find a way to win. It’s a good football team. I love our football team. I love where they are. And, again, all our goals are ahead of us,” said Narduzzi. “It’s a nonconference game. As I told them before the game, we’re going to go out and have fun, play loose, and go. We’re going to get better. And, you know, again, nonconference game. Move on.”
Notes: Narduzzi also took time to acknowledge the passing of former Coach Frank Cignetti Sr, father of Pitt Offensive Coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr. “When you think about sacrifice, this is a game of football, and there’s so many other games in life and the sacrifice that he made sitting here. There was no doubt that he was going to coach the game. It’s a major sacrifice. It’s a game of football and a game of life, but our prayers go to their family. Just a sad, sad deal.”
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