Pitt Overcomes 11-Point Halftime Deficit in 78-75 Win Over Marquette
Young Scores 19 of Career-High 30 Points After Intermission MORE
CLEMSON, S.C. — Chris Blewitt made a 48-yard field goal with six seconds left as Pitt stunned No. 2 Clemson 43-42, spoiling a record-setting Saturday for quarterback Deshaun Watson and complicating the Tigers’ path back to the College Football Playoff.
It was the biggest win for the Panthers (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) since knocking off No. 2 West Virginia 13-9 in 2007.
Watson threw for an ACC record 580 yards and three touchdowns for Clemson (9-1, 6-1). But his third interception gave Pitt the chance to crawl back from a 42-34 deficit. After Saleem Brightwell’s pick and 70-yard return, James Conner finished the drive with a 20-yard TD run.
The Panther defense, which gave up 630 yards, rose up when it counted and stopped Wayne Gallman short on third and fourth down to take the ball with 58 seconds left. Two passes to Scott Orndoff put Pitt within range and Blewitt nailed the kick to send the Panthers into a frenzy.
“Our team had a lot of guts tonight,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said.
And a whole lot of playmakers to topple the defending ACC champs.
Nathan Peterman had a career-best five TD passes and 308 yards. Conner rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one of Peterman’s scoring throws.
Blewitt, who had a kick blocked at the end of the opening half, was steely eyed and ready. Narduzzi gave his senior a kiss on the cheek and sent him out for the winning kick.
“As soon as I saw the kick go up, I knew it was going in,” Orndoff said. “It was jubilation.”MORE
Peterman Named Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week
The senior quarterback engineered the Panthers’ stunning victory at Clemson.
PITTSBURGH—Pitt senior quarterback Nathan Peterman has been named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week following his incredible performance in the Panthers’ 43-42 victory over previously unbeaten Clemson.
In what will be remembered as one of the greatest games ever by a Pitt quarterback, Peterman threw for a career-high 308 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions on 22-of-37 passing. Entering the game, the Tigers had only surrendered five passing touchdowns the entire season.
Peterman threw for 242 yards and four TDs in the first half alone. His scoring strikes to James Conner (46 yards) and Scott Orndoff (55) were the longest against Clemson this season.
Following a fourth-down stop by the Pitt defense with 58 seconds left, Peterman led the Panthers into position for the game-winning field goal by competing two passes for 25 yards and running for another nine yards. Chris Blewitt completed the upset by nailing a 48-yard field goal with six seconds remaining.
(WATCH: Highlights of Pitt’s stunning upset in Death Valley)
With the victory, the Panthers halted the nation’s longest home winning streak at 21 games. It was also the Tigers’ first regular-season loss since 2014.
Pitt (1-0, 0-0 ACC) vs. Gardner-Webb (0-1, 0-0 Big South)
Monday, Nov. 14, 2016 • 7:00 p.m. • ACC Network Extra
Pittsburgh, Pa. • Petersen Events Center (12,508)
THE OPENING TIP
- Pitt hosts Gardner-Webb Monday, Nov. 14 at the Petersen Events Center in the second regional site game of the 2K Classic benefiting Wounded Warrior Project.
- The Panthers return six of their top seven scorers, including double-figure scorers Michael Young (15.7 ppg.) and Jamel Artis (14.4 ppg.), from last year’s team that finished 21-12 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the 13th time in the past 15 seasons. Those six returnees accounted for 88 of Pitt’s 93 points in the season opener.
- Pitt is the only team in the ACC with two returning all-conference performers. Michael Young earned third team All-ACC honors a year ago, while Jamel Artis was a third team selection in 2015. www.pittsburghpanthers.com
