PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pat Narduzzi said multiple times during the week, ‘no letdowns’. He was right, no letdowns, just a beatdown by Pitt of Youngstown State 73-17 Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium.
Starting the season 4-0, it is Pitt’s first unbeaten, non-conference schedule in school history. Panthers first joined a conference in 1991. Quarterback Eli Holstein combined for five touchdowns in his fourth career start.
“I talked to our guys about the attitude we take in making a statement, regardless of who we played,” Narduzzi said. “We wanted to put the foot to the pedal and show who we are. That is the way it’s supposed to be.”
Saturday against the Penguins, the Panthers scored on all six possessions in the first half, amassing 370 yards on 28 plays while losing the time of possession by over 10 minutes.
Touchdowns
· 11 plays, 75 yards (3:33)—Key plays-Holstein rushed for 32 yardsTD-Holstein rolled right & hits Poppy Williams wide open in the flat for a six-yard score, 7-0
· 2 plays, 42 yards (0:29)
TD- Daniel Carter 24-yard touchdown untouched up the middle, 14-0
· 6 plays, 61 yards (3:31) Key plays-Holstein hit as he throws it up for Williams, he comes down with a 35-yard gain to the YSU five-yard line
TD-Holstein drags defender two yards just over goal line, 21-0
· 5 plays, 74 yards (1:54)
TD-Holstein waits, finds Kenny Johnson for 10-yard score in back right corner of end zone, 28-3
· 2 plays, 43 yards (0:17), key plays-LB Kyle Louis interception
TD -Daniel Carter left side, career-long 43-yard run, 35-3
· 1 play, 82 yards (0:13)
First play after YSU touchdown, Holstein drops back and make a perfect throw to Censere Lee who catches it at the YSU 46 and ran the rest, 42-10 (longest Panthers pass play since 2019 Quick Lane Bowl)
· 9 plays, 83 yards (3:13), key play-Holstein alludes the rush and sprints up the middle 49 yards to YSU two-yard line
TD-Holstein two-yard run to right corner of end zone, 52-17
· 9 plays, 92 yards (2:55), key plays, Nate Yarnell completes 5 of 7 passes in his first series of the game
TD-Yarnell 13-yard TD pass to Daniel Carter, 59-17
TD-DB Tamarion Crumpley 18-yard interception return, 66-17
· 6 plays, 85 yards (2:42), key play-walk-on Benny Haselrig caught a 7-yard pass
TD-Che Nwabuko 57-yard run, 73-17
100 club
Senior running back Daniel Carter had his first 100-yard game of his six-year college career. He would finish with seven carries for 109 yards, plus a 13-yard touchdown reception. Carter’s previous career high was 11 carries for 65 yards last year against Wofford.
“I told you when my number was called I would make a play and take advantage of my opportunity and that’s what I did today,” Carter said.
It wasn’t just that he had 109 yards, but the burst he showed. He was untouched for a 24-yard touchdown to make it 14-0. That was a career-long. He would break that with a 43-yard run for a touchdown in the second quarter saying he always felt like he had another gear and said if he got in the open field, no one would catch him.
“It’s pretty nice for me to get my confidence back, to know that I can do in and make plays," Carter said. "I was definitely proud of how I handled things, not just me, but the o-line up front and the guys blocking on the perimeter. It’s not just one me, but my teammates.”
“I’m so happy for him,” Holstein said. “DC has been here for a while. He knows the ups-and-downs of the last couple of years and he stuck through it. A good game for a really good guy.”
“He had much opportunity in the backfield,” Louis said. “With this offense, he got some more running back snaps. Everything he did today, he did in practice too. He finally showcased it.”
Stats
· Eli Holstein 16-24, 247 yards, 3 TD//9 rushes, 93 yards, 2 TD (most rushing yards by Pitt QB since Chad Voytik 118 yards vs. Virginia Tech in 2014)
· Cinsere Lee 4 receptions, 108 yards, 82-yard TD
· Poppy Williams 4 receptions, 71 yards, TD
· Ben Sauls hit a 49-yard FG, he is 7 for 7 this year
· Brandon George had a Pitt-leading 8 tackles and a QB hurry
· LB Kyle Louis 6 tackles, 1.5 TFL, interception, forced fumble, quarterback hurry
Notes
· Panthers tailback Derrick Davis left the game midway through the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. He had to be helped to get off the field.
· PJ O’Brien called for targeting on the last play of the third quarter, he will have to miss the first half of the next game
Up Next
A bye week followed by the start of ACC play at North Carolina on October 5. The time of that game has not yet been announced.
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