This will excite some fans as it was a blowout… First off the important part – Fran’s tailgate.
Here is a link to the Tribune Review’s Jerry DiPaola’s take on the game… I personally think this quote by Narduzzi is rather insulting to his opponent head coach and the UMass players – “This was a good scrimmage. Scrimmage No. 3. We only had two during camp,” but that’s just me I guess as I feel courtesy is still important in every aspect of life.
From Pitt’s EJ Borghetti:
Pitt 51, Massachusetts 7
Sept. 4, 2021
TEAM
- Pitt opened with a 51-7 victory over Massachusetts at Heinz Field. The Panthers’ point total and victory margin (44 points) marked their highest since last year’s opener (55-0 over Austin Peay).
- Pitt improved to 6-1 in season openers under Pat Narduzzi. The Panthers are 86-44-2 all-time in openers, including 16-6 since 2000.
STARTERS
- Junior defensive end John Morgan made his first collegiate start.
- Senior cornerback Damarri Mathis, who missed all of last season due to injury, made his first start since the Quick Lane Bowl vs. Eastern Michigan on Dec. 26, 2019.
- Hawaii transfer Melquise Stovall, a super senior, started at wide receiver in his Pitt debut.
- Senior Marcus Minor, a Maryland transfer, started at left guard in his Pitt debut.
OFFENSE
- Pitt compiled 222 rushing yards, the 25th time under Pat Narduzzi that the Panthers have eclipsed 200 yards on the ground. Pitt is 19-6 under Narduzzi when rushing for 200+ yards.
- The Panthers had 597 yards in total offense, their highest since recording a school-record 654 against Virginia Tech on Nov. 10, 2018.
- Three Pitt quarterbacks combined for 375 passing yards: super senior Kenny Pickett (272), junior Nick Patti (58) and sophomore Davis Beville (45).
- Patti relieved a momentarily injured Pickett at 13:54 of the second quarter for one play and completed a 17-yard pass to Shocky Jacques-Louis. Patti then came on late in the third quarter and finished 5-of-5 passing for 58 yards. He added a nine-yard rushing score.
- Super senior Lucas Krull scored Pitt’s opening touchdown on a five-yard pass from Kenny Pickett. It was Krull’s first career touchdown reception.
DEFENSE
- Pitt surrendered just 209 total yards to Massachusetts, marking the lowest by a Panthers’ opponent since Syracuse had 171 on Sept. 19, 2020.
- The Panthers compiled five sacks against Massachusetts. It was the 17th time under Narduzzi that Pitt had at least five sacks in a game. Pitt is 16-1 in those contests.
- Super senior linebacker John Petrishen had a career-high two sacks to lead Pitt.
- UMass managed just 42 rushing yards (on 27 carries), the 28th time a Pitt opponent has been held to less than 100 rushing yards under Pat Narduzzi. Pitt is 22-6 in those contests.
- The Minutemen’s 42 rushing yards are the fewest by a Pitt opponent since Boston College managed just 30 on Oct. 10, 2020.
- Junior safety Erick Hallett was responsible for the game’s first turnover at 13:19 of the third quarter when he forced a fumble (from receiver Michael Fitzgerald) and recovered it himself at the Pitt 38. The Panthers parlayed the turnover into a touchdown to build a 30-0 lead.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Pitt had two placekickers make their collegiate debuts. Sophomore Sam Scarton took the lead on placekicking duties and tallied seven points, making his lone field goal attempt (35 yards) and 4-of-5 PATs. Redshirt freshman Ben Sauls was 2-of-2 on extra point tries. Sauls also handled kickoffs and had four touchbacks on nine kicks.
pittpov.com 