Tag: Pitt

Toledo Rockets quarterback Tucker Gleason (4) runs for the first down, during the first half of the 2024 GameAbove Sports Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024.

Toledo outlasts Pitt in six OTs in GameAbove Sports Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tucker Gleason threw for two touchdowns and capped a career-best 336-yard performance with a game-winning two-point conversion pass to Junior Vandeross III to propel the Toledo Rockets to a 48-46 six-overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers in the GameAbove Sports Bowl Thursday in Detroit.

Vandeross also had a career day, posting personal bests of 12 passes for 194 yards for the Rockets (8-5), who, with the win over the Panthers (7-6), beat two power conference opponents in the same season for just the second time in school history. Toledo needed to come back from a 10-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to force overtime and then had two earlier stops in the extra sessions nullified by a penalty and a replay reversal.

It appeared Toledo would have the game in hand in the first half. Gleason and Vandeross connected on a 67-yard touchdown pass to give the Rockets a 13-12 lead midway through the second quarter. Then, just 14 seconds later, cornerback Braden Awls picked off a David Lynch pass on Pitt’s first play and returned it 42 yards to extend the lead to eight points.

The loss overshadowed the debut of Pitt freshman Julian Dugger, who replaced fellow freshman David Lynch in the third quarter. The Pittsburgh native completed 7 of 13 passes for 72 yards and two scores to help the Panthers take a 30-20 early in the fourth quarter. He also ran 21 times for 88 yards and a touchdown in the first extra period but his throw for Kenny Johnson was incomplete in the sixth OT as the Rockets prevailed.

However, he also threw an interception that Darius Alexander returned 58 yards for a touchdown that cut the Panthers lead to 30-27 with 7:49 left in regulation. Dylan Cunanan tied the game with 1:45 left on a 51-yard field goal.

Desmond Reid, an all-purpose All-American, ran for a season-high 165 yards on 32 carries, also a season-high, for the Panthers, who collected 301 of their 438 yards on the ground.

The Panthers finished the season losing six straight thanks to injuries decimating the roster. That included Eli Holstein, a freshman quarterback who threw for 2,228 yards but was unable to play in the bowl due to an ankle injury he suffered at Louisville on Nov. 23. Lynch, a walk-on freshman quarterback who threw just nine passes in the regular season, got the start.

–Field Level Media

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi

Toledo, Pitt wrap season of bigger dreams in GameAbove Sports Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

One day after Christmas, Pittsburgh and Toledo meet in Detroit in the GameAbove Sports Bowl hoping to put a bow on a 2024 season that began with bigger wishes.

The Panthers (7-5) were No. 18 in the initial 2024 College Football Playoff rankings on Nov. 5, three days after suffering their first loss at SMU. However, that 48-25 defeat to the Mustangs was the start of a five-game skid that ran the rest of the regular season.

Injuries plagued Pitt in November. Quarterback Eli Holstein missed the Nov. 16 game against Clemson after suffering a head injury the week prior in the loss to Virginia. The freshman returned to start against Louisville on Nov. 23, but he didn’t make it out of the first quarter after injuring his left ankle. That caused him to miss the last game against Boston College.

Several offensive line injuries also affected the team during the skid, and an undisclosed ailment kept Desmond Reid, the Panthers’ second-team All-American all-purpose back, out against Boston College.

“I would imagine on the 26th we’re going to be a heck of a lot healthier than we were coming out of that BC game,” coach Pat Narduzzi said to reporters during a press conference for the bowl earlier this month. “I promise you that.”

Narduzzi hopes Holstein can play. In 10 games, the signal caller completed nearly 62 percent of his throws for 2,228 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. It could become an issue since Nate Yarnell, who threw for 1,056 yards and 10 TDs with five picks, entered the transfer portal.

David Lynch, who threw just nine passes this season, would back up, the coach said.

Reid ran for 797 yards and four touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 564 yards and four scores. He also averaged 12.3 yards on a dozen punt returns, one of which was returned for a TD. Pitt also has an All-American on defense. Linebacker Kyle Louis registered 16 tackles for loss, including seven sacks. He also picked off four passes, scoring on one.

The Rockets (7-5), who ended the season with consecutive losses, are bowl bound for the fourth straight season.

Toledo sports the best passing attack in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 246.2 yards a game. Tucker Gleason threw for 2,457 yards and has a 22-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Jerjuan Newton caught 64 passes for 949 yards and a MAC-leading 11 scores. The defense, led by safety Maxen Hook (107 tackles, two interceptions), allows an average of five yards a play. That ranks 27th in the country.

Coach Jason Candle, who is one win away from matching Gary Pinkel for the most victories in school history (73), said at the press conference the game gives the seniors one last chance to celebrate their careers, many of which will end this week, while giving underclassmen additional practices that can pay off next season.

“This is a reward for having a great year,” the ninth-year coach said. “You want to finish it off the right way, and you want to do a great job of balancing what it looks like for the future of your program. I think if this is handled the right way, it kind of sets the culture and the tempo for what your offseason starting point is in January or February.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles running back Kye Robichaux (5) scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the first half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Boston College defeats Pitt to continue Panthers slide

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Grayson James threw for a pair of second-half touchdowns and six passes of at least 25 yards as Boston College defeated Pitt 34-23 in Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference action at Chestnut Hill, Mass.

James finished 20-of-28 for 253 yards, helping the Eagles (7-5, 4-4 ACC) to their second straight and third win in four games. He connected with Reed Harris (three receptions, 85 yards) and Kamari Morales for scores, with the former scoring for the second week in a row.

Jordan McDonald and Kye Robichaux rushed into the end zone to help the Eagles open up a 13-0 lead that they would never relinquish, reaching the seven-win mark in the regular season for the first time since 2018.

Despite Nate Yarnell throwing for 296 yards and three touchdowns in place of injured starter Eli Holstein, Pitt (7-5, 3-5) suffered its fifth consecutive loss since a 7-0 start.

Gavin Bartholomew caught Yarnell’s first two touchdowns before Konata Mumpfield finished a 144-yard day on eight receptions with one of his own.

Boston College sacked Yarnell six times. Standout defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku had 10 total tackles (4 1/2 for loss) and 3 1/2 sacks.

After Pitt closed within 20-17, James hit Jeremiah Franklin on a third-and-10 scramble to continue a key eight-play, 83-yard scoring drive that Harris finalized on a 28-yard jump-ball in the front corner of the end zone with 2:33 left in the third quarter.

Pitt’s fumbled snap on 4th-and-2 turned the ball back to James, whose 15-yard dot to Morales with 6:12 remaining added insurance. A Lewis Bond conversion on fourth-and-4 set the table.

Mumpfield made a 15-yard touchdown reception with 3:59 left.

A play after James completed his third 25-yarder of the first quarter over the middle to Franklin, Jordan McDonald broke out for a 36-yard touchdown run to give Boston College a 6-0 lead with 1:53 left. The PAT attempt was unsuccessful following a bad snap.

James’ 53-yard strike to Harris set up the Eagles to extend their lead to 13-0 on Robichaux’s 2-yard run with 6:35 left before halftime.

Pitt used a 75-yard drive to score in the ensuing eight plays. Facing third-and-11, Yarnell found a wide-open Bartholomew for an 11-yard score, cutting the Panther deficit to 13-7.

Yarnell then drove the Panthers into opposing territory in four plays, but Neto Okpala’s pressure and tipped pass landed in the hands of defensive tackle Ty Clemons for a 55-yard interception return with 33 seconds left before halftime.

Pitt’s Ben Sauls snuck in a 57-yard field goal as the first-half clock expired.

After a fourth-and-2 hold inside their own territory, Bartholomew caught Yarnell’s last two passes of an eight-play, 65-yard drive, including a five-yarder with 7:50 left in the third to make it 20-17.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Stanford, California, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm protests a call during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images

Tyler Shough, Isaac Brown lead Louisville’s rout of Pitt

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Tyler Shough threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns to lead Louisville to a convincing 37-9 victory over visiting Pitt in their Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Saturday.

Isaac Brown rushed for 93 yards and two scores on 13 carries for the Cardinals (7-4, 5-3 ACC), who racked up 505 yards.

Louisville dominated on both sides of the ball and led 34-0 just 62 seconds into the third quarter after Chris Bell’s 68-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a flat pass from Shough. Bell finished with 101 yards receiving on two catches.

The Panthers (7-4, 3-4) entered Saturday averaging nearly 429 yards a game, but the Cardinals allowed just 265 and forced three turnovers as Pittsburgh lost its fourth straight contest.

Pittsburgh took the opening kick and marched to the Louisville 7, only for Stanquan Clark to pick off Eli Holstein’s pass in the end zone for the first of his two interceptions on the night. Louisville converted that turnover into Brock Travelstead’s 41-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

Holstein started at quarterback for Pittsburgh after missing last week’s loss to Clemson due to a head injury. However, he left the game with 5:32 left in the opening quarter after being sacked by Ashton Gillotte at the Panthers 49.

As he was going down, Holstein’s left ankle rolled under Gillotte. He was already in a walking boot as he was carted off the field.

He was replaced by Nate Yarnell. After throwing for 350 yards against Clemson last week, Yarnell managed just 96 yards on 11-of-23 passing. He also threw an interception by Clark that led to Brown’s 15-yard scoring run.

David Lynch replaced Yarnell to start the fourth quarter.

Brown was in the starting lineup despite suffering a shoulder injury early last week at Stanford and continued producing at his prolific pace against the Panthers. He entered Saturday ranked second nationally averaging 7.4 yards a carry.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) throws against the Louisville Cardinals during the first quarter at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Pitt QB Eli Holstein carted off with leg injury

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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off the field with 5:32 left in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury during Saturday’s Atlantic Coast Conference game against host Louisville.

The freshman was sacked at the Panthers’ 49-yard line by Louisville’s Ashton Gillotte, who rolled on the quarterback’s ankle. Holstein was in a walking boot as he was helped to the cart.

Holstein missed last week’s game against Clemson after suffering a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago.

Holstein was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards and an interception before exiting.

Nate Yarnell, who threw for 350 yards in the loss to Clemson, replaced Holstein.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) is tackled by Virginia Cavaliers defensive tackle Terrell Jones (25) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Pitt QB Eli Holstein to start vs. Louisville

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein will return from injury to start Saturday against Louisville, according to multiple reports.

Holstein left two games within the past month with apparent head injuries.

He departed the Panthers’ 41-13 win over Syracuse on Oct. 24 after taking a hit on a run, but he played the following week in a 48-25 loss to then-No. 20 SMU. Against Virginia the next week, he left with an apparent head injury while sliding at the end of a run in a 24-19 loss.

Holstein dressed but did not play last Saturday in the Panthers’ third straight loss, when then-No. 17 Clemson scored a touchdown with 1:16 remaining to win 24-20.

Holstein was medically cleared earlier in the week but Pitt (7-3, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters Thursday he wasn’t sure who would be starting.

“I don’t know, it’s a great question, we’ll see … we’ll see,” Narduzzi said at his weekly news conference. “And again, it’s still a work in progress. He’s cleared to play right now, so we’ll see game time.”

Holstein won the starting job in training camp. A transfer from Alabama, Holstein has a completion rate of 61.9 percent (177 of 286) and has thrown for 2,177 yards with 17 TDs and six interceptions in nine games.

He is also Pitt’s second-leading rusher with 323 yards and three touchdowns.

Nate Yarnell started against Clemson and completed 34 of 54 pass attempts for 350 yards.

–Field Level Media

Oct 25, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm looks over his play card during the first half against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Free-falling Pitt, Louisville lock up with bowl position in play

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Teams eager to move past late losses take the field Saturday when the Louisville Cardinals host the Pittsburgh Panthers.

Louisville (6-4, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) returns after allowing Stanford to score 10 points in the final 45 seconds to upset the then-No. 19 Cardinals 38-35.

The Cardinals fell out of this week’s College Football Playoff rankings when the selection committee released them on Tuesday night.

The Panthers (7-3, 3-3) lost their third straight when then-No. 20 Clemson scored a touchdown with 1:16 remaining to win 24-20. Pitt outgained the visitors 438-346 but committed two turnovers and allowed eight sacks. In addition, coach Pat Narduzzi’s team committed a season-high 13 penalties for 100 yards. Three came in succession when the Panthers had a third-and-goal from the Clemson 1. Instead of possibly scoring a touchdown, Pitt settled for a field goal.

Like Pitt, Louisville committed a season-high 13 for 102 yards. Flags negated two interceptions and a sack. Another gave Stanford a second chance for a two-point conversion. Others were even costlier.

Stanford got the ball at its 45 with five seconds remaining after Louisville turned it over on downs. In that time, the Cardinals committed two penalties, allowing Stanford to win on a 52-yard field goal as time expired.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Brohm said he’s fine if the players are still stung from the loss.

“We feel the pain, and you got to let it motivate you to want to not let it happen again,” Brohm said.

Pitt may not know until the end of this week whether starting quarterback Eli Holstein can play. He suffered a head injury in the loss to Virginia two weeks ago. Nate Yarnell started against Clemson and threw for 350 yards and a touchdown.

The Panthers have dealt with a rash of injuries, but the offensive line has especially taken a beating. With three regulars out, there’s been a rotation on the line, which is a reason for some of the penalties.

The injuries come at a point in the season when Narduzzi tries to limit practicing to save players.

“We’ve not cut the practice back yet because we needed to work the last two weeks,” he explained.

Louisville may play Saturday without Isaac Brown, who left the Stanford game with a shoulder contusion. Brohm hopes the freshman, whose 7.4 yards per carry ranks second in FBS, can play but was uncertain on Monday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) in action during the game between the Southern Methodist Mustangs and the Pittsburgh Panthers at Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Pitt QB Eli Holstein to miss game vs. No. 20 Clemson

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Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein will be sidelined Saturday against No. 20 Clemson as he continues to recover from apparent head injuries, ESPN reported.

Per the report, Holstein has not been medically cleared after leaving two of the Panthers’ past three games with injuries.

In his place, junior Nate Yarnell will make his fourth career start — first this season — for Pitt.

Yarnell has appeared in 12 games for the Panthers and is 2-1 as a starter. He has completed 65.3 percent (81 of 124) of his passes for 1,104 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions in his career.

In six games this season, he has thrown for 314 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions.

Holstein won the starting job in training camp. A transfer from Alabama, Holstein has a completion rate of 61.9 percent (177 of 286) and thrown for 2,177 yards with 17 TDs and six interceptions in nine games.

He is also Pitt’s second-leading rusher with 323 yards and three touchdowns.

The Atlantic Coast Conference foes both are 7-2 on the season. Pitt is 3-2 in ACC games; Clemson is 6-1.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein (10) scrambles with the ball as Virginia Cavaliers linebacker Kam Robinson (5) chases during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

No. 20 Clemson faces Pitt, maintains pursuit of CFP

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A week ago, it seemed as if Saturday afternoon’s matchup between No. 20 Clemson and host Pitt wouldn’t have any real stakes regarding the College Football Playoff.

Miami then was upset by Georgia Tech, and so the Hurricanes and Tigers are tied with one loss each in Atlantic Coast Conference play as mid-November approaches.

As the Tigers (7-2, 6-1) travel to Pittsburgh this weekend, a Clemson berth in the ACC title game is still possible, which means an automatic berth in the 12-team CFP remains attainable.

SMU stands alone in first place in the conference with a 5-0 recodr.

“We’ve talked about how great it would be to get to 7-1 (in ACC play). That’s the best we can finish at this point, so that’s what we can control,” Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said this week. “We’re still in the thick of it. We don’t control what other teams are doing, but we focus on what we can control.”

Clemson scored a 24-14 win at Virginia Tech last week. Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns, while Phil Mafah rushed for 128 yards on 26 carries.

But Swinney was especially frustrated with Klubnik holding the ball too long and taking unnecessary sacks.

“Just stuff that we needed him to do as a quarterback and decisions. He took four sacks, every sack was on him, and none of them should have happened,” Swinney said. “He just tried to do a little too much a couple times, just frustrating, (and) was a couple of plays there that we didn’t pull the trigger on.”

The quarterback position also is concerning for Pitt (7-2, 3-2), which started the season with seven consecutive wins but has back-to-back losses, dropping out of the playoff rankings this week.

Redshirt freshman QB Eli Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, left in the third quarter of a 24-19 loss to Virginia on Saturday with an apparent head injury. Holstein was hit while sliding on a second-and-4 scramble, and Cavaliers linebacker Trey McDonald was ejected for targeting on the play.

When asked about Holstein’s status for the Clemson game, Pitt coach Patt Narduzzi was non-committal.

“Our doctors make all those decisions,” he said. “I wish I could tell you. I don’t even go down to the training room to see. I stay out of the training room. That’s not my job. My job is to coach football and let some of the best medical trainers in the country take care of (it).”

If Holstein is sidelined, it’s likely that Nate Yarnell will start at quarterback. He completed only 4 of 12 passes for 44 yards and threw two interceptions in the loss to Virginia.

Since Pitt joined the ACC in 2011, the Panthers and Tigers have met four times. The series is 2-2. Pitt leads the all-time series 3-2 and won the recent meeting 27-17 in 2021.

After Saturday’s game, Clemson will close the regular season at home against the Citadel and No. 21 South Carolina, while Pitt will end with road games against No. 19 Louisville and Boston College.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers running back Daniel Carter (4) carries the ball against Virginia Cavaliers defensive end Mekhi Buchanan (11) during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Virginia holds on, hands No. 18 Pitt second straight loss

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Xavier Brown accounted for two touchdowns and visiting Virginia held on for a 24-19 upset of No. 18 Pittsburgh on Saturday night.

It was the second straight loss for the Panthers (7-2, 3-2 ACC), likely eliminating their chances to reach the College Football Playoff or ACC Championship Game.

The Cavaliers (5-4, 3-3) ended a three-game skid and moved closer to gaining bowl eligibility for the first time under third-year coach Tony Elliott.

Anthony Colandrea passed for 143 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Virginia.

Nate Yarnell had a touchdown pass and two interceptions for Pitt after taking over for starter Eli Holstein, who left with an apparent head injury in the third quarter. Desmond Reid paced the Panthers with 123 yards from scrimmage.

Pitt had a final chance to take the lead before Yarnell’s pass was intercepted by Corey Thomas Jr. with 1:40 left.

Virginia opened the scoring in the second quarter with some trickery. Cavaliers receiver Suderian Harrison got the ball on a reverse and threw a 27-yard pass to Colandrea to the 1-yard line. Brown ran it in on the next snap for a 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, the Panthers put together a 12-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Daniel Carter’s 1-yard run to tie the score with 4:48 remaining in the half.

An interception by Kyle Louis set up a 44-yard field goal by Ben Sauls to give Pitt its first lead at 10-7 with 1:59 left.

Sauls hit a 48-yarder with eight seconds left to give the Panthers a 13-7 lead at halftime.

Momentum shifted to Virginia in the third quarter. Holstein left the game after getting hit in the helmet by Virginia linebacker Trey McDonald, who was thrown out for targeting.

After Jonas Sanker blocked a 45-yard field goal attempt by Sauls, Colandrea put the Cavaliers in front 14-13 with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Brown.

Virginia got the ball back after Sanker intercepted Yarnell’s pass. Four plays later, Kobe Pace’s 3-yard touchdown run made it 21-13 with 3:34 left in the third.

Yarnell’s 4-yard TD pass to Gavin Bartholomew cut the deficit to 21-19 with 10:32 to play. That’s where the score remained after a holding penalty wiped out Bartholomew’s two-point conversion catch.

The Cavaliers extended the lead to 24-19 on a 32-yard field goal by Will Bettridge to cap a 16-play, 60-yard drive that chewed up 8:26.

–Field Level Media