By Ray Porter Jr. for Urban Media Today
PITTSBURGH, PA—After starting the season 7-0, the Pitt Panthers are now on a losing streak. It began with a 48-25 defeat to SMU Mustangs and 24-19 loss to the Virgnia Cavaliers at Acrisure Stadium, which also included the ACC Network National TV Audience.
“Obviously, a disappointing outing, disappointed in a lot of different ways. We had our chances to win the football game. We didn’t get it done,” said Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi. “Their last touchdown, a 20-yard drive, four plays off of a turnover, or even in the turnover margin. Two interceptions, both teams. So, it hurts you when you don’t protect the ball. I think we had two interceptions in the second half. Both hurt us.”
Even though their performance was much better this week, it was evident that the Panthers had their struggles against the Cavaliers in all 3 phases of the game (offense, defense and special teams) On offense, QB Eli Holstein still appeared shaken from their loss to SMU as he struggled to complete passes to his receivers in the first quarter. But it appeared to have shaken it off as he led the Panthers on a 12 play, 80 yards that ended with a 1-yard TD by RB Daniel Carter that tied the game at 7. Holstein (10/23, 121 yards) also led Pitt on 2 over scoring drives, but they resulted in two Ben Sauls field goals that only extended Pitt’s lead to 13-7 at halftime.
What also hurt the Panthers was 11 penalties for 75 yards, including several by left tackle Ryan Baer.
“Just looking at the tape, we felt we had to make some changes because we weren’t getting production off the left side, moved Baer to left tackle and Enos inside and Montgomery to right tackle. So just trying to fix the issue since Branson left,” Narduzzi commented.
But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough as the Panthers still had their challenges, especially after Holstein left the game after being injured by Mike Diatta who was ejected for targeting.
Enter Nate Yarnell, who tried to make a good first impression on his first official drive of the game, but his deep pass landed into the hands of Virginia S Jonas Sanker, which led the way to a 3-yard touchdown run by Kobe Pace that put the Cavaliers back up 21-13.
Yarnell would then get the Panthers into the endzone as he found TE Gavin Bartholomew for a 4-yard TD pass closing Virginia’s lead to 21-19, and it appeared that they tied the game on a 2-point conversion, but it was wiped out by a holding call by Baer. Yarnell and the Panthers would then miss the 2nd conversion attempt.
“We got an opportunity, two-point plays, converted. And for whatever reason — we had iPads, I know that, on the sideline. But we didn’t get it done,” said Narduzzi.
But what also hurt the Panthers was a very questionable call late in the 4th quarter when it appeared that they forced a turnover on downs as they stopped Cavaliers RB Xavier Brown (15 carries, 68 yards, TD), but the referee stated that his fellow officials were not in proper position at the snap.
“At the end they got five downs. And haven’t seen that many times in my career,” said Narduzzi. “And, again, we held them to a field goal there at the end, but it ate up more time on the clock, which would have gave us more time at the end, either the last possession or the second to last possession.”
As a result, Brown converted the first down for the Cavaliers (5-4, 3-3 ACC) and extended their lead to 5 on a 32-yard field goal by Will Bettridge.
Yarnell and the Panthers tied to position themselves for a game-winning TD, but their hopes were dashed when he threw his 2nd interception of the game, giving the ball back to QB Anthony Colandrea (16/24, 143 yards, TD, 2 Interceptions) and the Cavaliers, who closed out the game.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 7-2 (3-2 ACC) and will now prepare to play #19 Clemson (7-2, 6-1 ACC) next Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. If the Panthers want a shot at the ACC Championship game, they know that winning causes all the ills.
“But it starts with me, starts with our coaches putting our kids in position to make plays. We had way too many penalties in the first half offensively,” Narduzzi remarked. “We’ll sit down and reevaluate where we are, what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and try to put a better product out there. But it’s frustrating, it’s frustrating for our offense, coaches; it’s frustrating for our offensive players. And again, it takes 11, 11 guys out there that have to make plays.”
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