PITTSBURGH— Four Panthers took home awards for their performances in the program’s historic 28-27 comeback victory at Cincinnati last weekend.
For the second week in a row, redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein has been named the ACC Rookie of the Week, while junior RB Desmond Reid, senior WR Konata Mumpfield and redshirt senior PK Ben Sauls have been named ACC Running Back of the Week, ACC Wide Receiver of the Week and ACC Specialist of the Week, respectively.
Holstein (Zachary, La./Zachary) helped engineer the dramatic victory, completing 20-of-35 passes for 302 yards with three touchdowns, including 10 of 11 for 189 yards and two scores in the final quarter of play. After directing Pitt’s game-winning drive, completing two passes for 42 yards and a seven-yard run to set up the clinching 35-yard field goal with 17 seconds left, Holstein became the first Pitt freshman (true or redshirt) to pass for 300 yards in consecutive games since Alex Van Pelt in 1989.
Reid (Miami Gardens, Fla./Miramar) became the first Pitt player on record to compile 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards in the same game. The dynamic running back ran for 148 yards on 19 carries (7.8 avg.) and caught six passes for 106 yards (17.7 avg.) and a touchdown in the win. He also became the first Pitt player to log two consecutive 100-yard rushing games to start a Pitt career since Dion Lewis in 2009.
Mumpfield (Hoschton, Ga./Dacula) caught five passes for a game-high 123 receiving yards (24.6 avg.) and two touchdowns in the triumph. The captain had scoring catches of 11 and 38 yards on consecutive drives to pull Pitt within 27-19 early in the fourth quarter. He also grabbed a 34-yard pass to the Cincinnati 19 to set up the game-winning field goal on the team’s final possession.
Sauls (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe) kicked three field goals, including the game-winner with 17 seconds left to help Pitt complete its largest comeback win in 53 years. He kicked field goals of 47, 53 and 35 yards and was perfect on four placements on the day (3-3 FG, 1-1 PAT).
The Panthers return home to Pittsburgh this weekend to play West Virginia (1-1) in the 107th “Backyard Brawl” this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN2 and can also be heard on 93.7 The Fan and the Pitt Panthers Radio Network.
Source: Mike Annarella/Pitt Football Communications