Gold Thrashes Blue 30-0 in Pitt’s Annual Spring Game
(Pittsburgh, PA ) There are no exhibition games in college football, so the next best thing is their annual Spring Game which pits one portion of the team vs. another, with each side wearing one of the school’s respective colors. This scrimmage is also extremely popular as the player’s parents and alumni are in attendance. Such is the story of the Pitt Panthers football team as they host their annual Blue/Gold Spring Game.
But things have been different these past 2 years because of the COVID-19 Pandemic: In 2020, there was not a Blue/Gold game and in 2021, the game resumed with a limited Heinz Field attendance of 5,000.
With Pitt’s cheerleaders and fans rooting both sides on, it was the Gold who stood tall as they defeated the Blue 30-0 in this year’s Spring game.
“The development we’ve seen this spring has been better than any of the past six springs we’ve had.”-Said Pitt head coach Narduzzi who will begin his 7th season as their leading man.
One of the team’s focus is at running back in which they have several who could make an impact, like sophomore (Blue Team) Israel Abanikanda who led all rushers with 77 yards. “He almost looks like Le’Veon Bell with his patience and vision.” Said Narduzzi “Izzy’s been strong all spring. He’s put 80 pounds on his squat, 40 on his bench.” Senior Todd Sibley Jr. led the Gold team with 65 yards on 6 carries and added a TD, fellow senior AJ Davis added 30 yards and junior Vincent David had 39 yards on 9 carried as the Gold team rushed for 149 total yards. The Blue team finished with 67 total yards.
As for Passing, Gold Junior QB Nick Patti led all with 133 yards and a TD, Sophomore Davis BeVille added 102 yards (6-6), a passing TD and a rushing TD. For the Blue, Redshirt Senior Kenny Pickett passed for 6 yards in limited action, and sophomore Joey Yellen led his team with 67 yards and an interception.
For the Gold, Redshirt WR Taysir Mack and sophomore TE Kyi Wright led all with 57 yards receiving. Junior WR Jared Wayne and senior TE Lucas Krull scored a TD apiece. For the Blue team, sophomore WR Jordan Addison led with 27 yards on 4 receptions and fellow sophomore Jaylon Barden added 41 yards on 3 receptions.
On defense, the Gold had 3 sacks (2 by sophomore DB Rashad Battle, 1 by Junior LB Brandon George) the Blue had a sack by junior LB Wendell Davis. Each team had an interception apiece (Junior DB AJ Woods-Gold and sophomore DB MJ Devonshire)
So now the team will enter summer drills, in which they will welcome their 2021 recruits en route to the 2021 season when they will host UMass Saturday September 4th at Heinz Field.
Notes: Narduzzi and his staff have selected the 2021 winners of the Ed Conway Award, presented to the most improved players of spring drills. Sophomore running back Israel Abanikanda is the offensive recipient, while senior linebacker John Petrishen is the defensive honoree.
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