By Ray Porter Jr.
PITTSBURGH, PA–The stage was set for the #14th ranked Louisville Cardinals. After all, they had just pulled off a huge upset over then#21 Notre Dame, and the fact that they’re undefeated, they were expecting to beat an underachieving Pitt Panthers team who started the season 1-4.
Unfortunately, the Panthers missed the memo as they stunned the Cardinals 38-21 in front of a Homecoming crowd at Acrisure Stadium, which also included Pitt alums Tony Dorsett, Darelle Revis, and Kenny Pickett.
“Ooh, I don’t know where to start. We talked about team, that was a team win. I told our guys all week we were going to win this football game, period,” said Pitt HC Pat Narduzzi. “Our guys were going to just find a way to get it done. Doesn’t matter what it was. Each one of our kids had a little blue vase, as well. They each had a blue vase in their pocket. As a matter of fact, Branson Taylor comes up to me on the field and goes, I had it in my socks.”
We were going to find a way to get it done. I’m just happy as heck for our football team. We needed that in a bad way.”
It was truly a complete-game effort in all 3 phases (offense, defense, special teams) as the Panthers put together their best effort since their 45-7 rout of FBS Wofford to begin the season. Pitt not only ended their 4-game losing streak, but they also won their first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game of the season.
“Christian (Veilleux)played really well. Defense was outstanding. They bent but didn’t break. Three turnovers plus four 4th down stops, that’s like seven turnovers in my opinion. The 4th down stops were big time against an explosive offense,” said Narduzzi.
On offense, it was all Veilleux (12/26, 200 yards, 2 TDs) as he took charge and managed a near-flawless game for the Panthers in his first start since replacing Phil Jurkovec. The Sophomore signal-caller led the Panthers on 4 scoring drives, 3 resulting in TDs. Veilleux passed for 2 of those scores: one to WR Bub Means (4 rec, 71 yards) on a 46-yard score, and the other to fellow WR Konta Mumfield (3 rec, 39 yards) on a 4th-and 5 that the Panthers chose to go for it instead of kicking the FG. But K Ben Sauls did add a 46-yard FG, and RB C’Bo Flemister scored on a 3-yard rush. RB Rodney Hammond Jr. led Pitt with 51 yards on 11 carries as the team rushed for a total of 88 yards.
“Threw for 200 yards. That last 4th down touchdown pass was right on the money to Konata. Just made plays when he needed to. And again, our receivers made plays,” Narduzzi commented. “Our offensive line did a great job. I think we gave up one sack on the day, so they did a good job protecting against that defensive line, and that pressure that they bring every day, just can’t say enough about what the offense did when they were out there and obviously the defense.”
But it was the defense who really put the clamps on the Cardinals as they forced 3 turnovers, 2 on interceptions as CB M.J Devonshire converted his into an 86-yard TD (Pitt’s longest since 1997) and fellow CB AJ Woods caught one deep in Pitt territory to end a Cardinals drive. DE Daniel Okunlola recovered a Jack Plummer fumble that he forced, and the defense also sacked Plummer 4 times. And the unit didn’t give up a score in the entire second half.
“Execution. Not a whole of different defenses out there. We had new defense, that was a Shayne Simon sack early in the first quarter on a little bear defense, but it comes down to execution,” Narduzzi said. “I don’t think the coaches did anything different. Our kids stuck together, and they executed.”
On Devonshire’s interception return for a TD, Narduzzi replied “You know, Devonshire was outstanding. We had a couple holding or PIs, whatever, back there, but M.J. was outstanding. That pick six, to do that in front of Tony Dorsett and Darrelle Revis up there, that’s big time. I think I told him right before that series, hey, you’re going to take one to the house, and sure enough, he did. It was time — turnovers were timely and really good.
Let me just say this: The Panther Pitt (student section) was outstanding. Down in that end zone, crappy weather, they showed up, and in that fourth quarter, it was loud. I appreciate all their efforts. Really everybody in the stands today.”
The Panthers will now hope to continue their winning ways as they travel to North Carolina next Saturday to face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (3-3, 0-3 ACC)
“I don’t think the coaches did anything different. Our kids stuck together, and they executed,” said Narduzzi. “I just look at the receivers that made plays today, whether it was Kenny, Bub. There was a lot of plays made, and we obviously missed some, but it just comes down to execution. When you execute, good things happen, and there wasn’t a lot of missed execution out there, again, against a good defense and a really good top-15 win.”
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