Pitt Shocks #2 Clemson In A Wild One, 43-42

There are two ways to look at Pitt’s monumental win at #2 Clemson on Saturday. First, Pitt’s offense is one of the best in the country and has an NFL level offensive line that can compete with anyone. Much to the chagrin to ABC announcer Brian Griese who said Pitt didn’t have the hogs up front to handle Clemson. That much is abundantly clear. Second, Pitt’s pass defense is perhaps the worst in the country. Clemson’s QB Deshaun Watson threw for an ACC all-time (and school) record 580 yards on 52 for 70 passing. However, that did include 3 TDs and more importantly 3 INTs in the process.

So yes, Pitt got gashed once again through the air but still managed to pull out the victory.

Yet, if one were to borrow a quote from Pitt’s new head basketball coach Kevin Stallings after pulling out a 2 OT Pitt win at home over Eastern Michigan on Friday, the end result is all that matters. Stallings said “It’s not an art contest, its a math contest, and we added up more points tonight.” Well, the same can be said for Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi in Saturday’s dramatic win over the #2 Tigers in Death Valley.

The Panthers got right to work on its first possession. After missing on a pass to true freshman WR Aaron Matthews on first down, senior QB Nate Peterman connected with senior TE Jaymar Parrish for 44 yards down to the Clemson 31 yard line.

After hitting with one of the game’s heros TE Scott Orndoff on an 8 yard completion, redshirt junior superstar tailback James Conner rushed for his first 8 yards to the Clemson 15 yard line. That set up one of Pitt’s offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s favorite plays – a shovel pass from Peterman to junior fullback George Aston for 15 yards to paydirt. Pitt led 7-0 early.

Clemson nearly came back on its first possession to tie to the score. But the drive was thwarted at the Pitt 13 yard line when Watson was intercepted by Pitt senior cornerback (and Penn State game hero) Ryan Lewis.

After Pitt punted on its second possession, Clemson would eventually tie the game behind the talents of 4 juniors who announced they are departing for the NFL after this year: WRs Mike Williams (30 yards) and Artavis Scott (18 yards), RB Wayne Gallman (1 yard TD run), and of course Watson himself. Pitt 7 Clemson 7.

On Pitt’s third possession, the Panthers found the endzone again. After connecting with true freshman WR Maurice Ffrench for no gain, Peterman found Orndoff for 17 yards and Aston for 14 yards that placed Pitt at the Clemson 44 yard line.

Peterman then tried a screen pass to Conner that resulted in a 2 yard loss, but followed it up with perhaps completed one of the prettiest wheel routes in Pitt football history: a 46 yard TD strike to a wide-open Conner. Pitt 14 Clemson 7.

Clemson then tacked on 2 more TDs behind the big four of Watson, Williams, Scott and Gallman. Clemson 21 Pitt 14.

This set up Pitt’s 5th possession, which was aided by a big defensive holding penalty on Clemson, and a few attempts downfield.

Peterman first missed on passes to Aston and a deep ball to junior WR Jester Weah, but then on 3rd down on a pass that sailed over Weah’s head the Tigers were flagged.

On the very next play, Peterman threw a jump ball to Orndoff, who may have gotten away with a tiny shove, and the play resulted in a 55 yard TD pass. Senior placekicker Chris Blewitt though missed the extra point. Clemson 21 Pitt 20.

This would turn out to be significant later in the game as Coach Narduzzi consoled Blewitt a couple of times during the game and continued to believe in his kicker.

On Clemson’s next drive, Watson got a little greedy and passed into triple coverage which led to a pass deflection that ended up in the arms of Pitt’s junior cornerback Avonte Maddox at the Pitt 14 yard line.

Pitt was not short on dramatics throughout the game and the Panthers 6th possession was certainly no different.

After Conner burst through with runs of 26 yards and 5 yards (he would finish the day with 20 carries for 132 yards and 2 TDs – one rushing and one receiving), Peterman found Orndoff for 6 yards and a Pitt first down at the Clemson 49 yard line.

Pitt sophomore tailback Darrin Hall Jr entered the game and rushed for 3 tough yards and this was followed up by 2 incompletions by Peterman to Weah and Orndoff. However, Clemson was once again flagged. This time for defensive pass interference by Van Smith.

Conner then bruised and bullied his way for 27 more yards to the Tigers 7 yard line. Hall would then lose 2 yards before Peterman took an option run himself 8 yards to the Clemson 1 yard line. Conner was then stopped cold on 3rd and goal.

This set up a really exciting 4th and goal in which Peterman dropped back and lofted a pass in the corner of the endzone to Aston for the 1 yard TD pass. Pitt 27 Clemson 21.

Watson abused the Pitt secondary on its final series of the 1st half and even added a 19 yard pass to Jordan Leggett. Watson finished the drive with 13 yard TD pass to Scott. Clemson 28 Pitt 27.

Pitt would, though, drive halfway down the field to set up a 53 yard FG attempt by Blewitt. But the kick was ultimately blocked by Clemson’s Lawrence. Narduzzi once again consoled Blewitt and continued to believe in his kicker. The score remained Clemson 28 Pitt 27 at half.

Clemson was then forced into its first punt of the afternoon, which ironically set up Pitt’s only miscue of the day.

Peterman started Pitt’s first drive of the second half wonderfully with completions to Orndoff (8 yards), Matthews (for a loss of 2 yards) and even spread the wealth to junior WR Dontez Ford for 12 yards.

However, Peterman was then sacked by Clemson’s Dorian O’Daniel, which caused Peterman to fumble. It was eventually recovered by Clemson’s Dexter Lawrence.

Three plays later, Clemson led 35-27.

Conner began Pitt’s second drive of the 2nd half with a 2 yard gain. He was then stopped on the next snap before Peterman once again missed on a 3rd down pass to Weah that resulted in another 15 yard pass interference call on the Tigers. This time it was on Cordrea Tankersley.

Peterman went right back to Conner for a 13 yard shovel pass completion and another short pass for 2 yards to Orndoff.

After passing incomplete on his next snap, Peterman then rushed for 3 more yards before Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell was called for clearly jumping offsides. This led to Peterman finding Ford for 2 more yards that was aided when the Tigers Ben Boulware for flagged for a 15 yard personal foul penalty.

Conner then went back to the ground with 5 yards followed by Peterman’s own run of 4 yards and Conner again with gains of 4 and 2 yards to the Clemson 7 yard line.

That’s when Peterman shoveled another pass to Orndoff for a 7 yard TD play. Clemson 35 Pitt 34. Orndoff completed the play with a cold stare down of the fans. It was classic.

The Watson, Scott, Williams and Gallman show then continued. This time Watson even utilized Clemson’s WR Hunter Renfrow for a 10 yard pass play. Gallman, though, capped the drive with a 1 yard TD run. Clemson 42 Pitt 34.

The game looked to be salted at that point.

The teams traded 2 more punts each until Watson drove the Tigers to 1st and goal down at the Pitt 7 yard line. After Gallman tacked on 4 more yards, Watson dropped back to pass to seal the win but in stepped an unseen Pitt redshirt LB Saleem Brightwell.

The NJ product picked off the errant Watson pass in the endzone and ran it back 70 yards. Brightwell was eventually caught from behind on a miraculous tackle by Clemson’s WR Mike Williams at the Tigers 30 yard line.

Peterman then missed on passes to Matthews, Ordnoff and Weah but Clemson was once again flagged for defensive holding. This time for 10 yards.

This set up the Terminator (James Conner) to stiff-arm his way to pay dirt. Conner took the Peterman hand-off and bullied his way 20 yards on the strong-side for the Pitt final TD of the day. Peterman would fail on the 2 point conversion play. Clemson 42 Pitt 40.

Clemson was just about to seal the game nonetheless after driving down to the Pitt 35 yard line with 2 plays that will live in Pitt football history. On 3rd and 1, Watson handed it off to Gallman for no gain.

On 4th and 1, rather than trying a field goal, a simple pass play or even punting, for some odd and unknown reason Clemson head coach Dabo Sweeney decided to run Gallman again. This time to the weak-side of the line. The play was stuffed by one of game’s heros, reserved defensive tackle Jeremiah Taleni, who failed to even crack the 2 deep after summer camp completed.

Taleni was assisted by senior middle LB Matt Galambos and the Panthers had one last chance to win the ball game.

First, Peterman dropped back and found no one open so he tucked it and ran it for 9 yards to the Pitt 45 yard line. Then, in one of the prettiest plays (of many) on the day, Peterman fired a strike to Orndoff for 21 yards to the Tigers 34 yard line. He then inched the Panthers 4 yards closer on another pass completion to Orndoff.

After missing on passes to Weah and Ford, the game rested on the leg of Pitt senior PK Chris Blewitt.

The snap came back, and Blewitt stepped up and booted perhaps one of the biggest kicks in Pitt football history through the uprights for 48 yards. Pitt 43 Clemson 42 in stunning fashion with just 6 seconds left.

The Panthers would kick off one final time and tackle Clemson’s kick returners to salt the game. Pitt 43 Clemson 42 Final.

It was Pitt’s biggest win since beating #2 West Virginia on the road on December 1, 2007.

Next up: Duke at Pitt, 3pm EST

While the win lifted Pitt to a 6-4 overall record (3-3 in the ACC), Pitt has to face a very tough Duke team that beat Pitt at Heinz Field in 2014.