Pitt Tops Syracuse, Prepares for Miami

Winning in the Carrier Dome is never easy. For Pitt, it has only been close except for just a handful of games.

Friday night was no exception as the Panthers got out to yet another big lead and held on to a 27-20 win over the Orange.

After trading punts on the first two drives, Pitt got on the scoreboard on its 3rd series when Panthers junior PK Alex Kessman nailed a 47 yard field goal. Pitt 3 Syracuse 0.

Syracuse would eventually tie the score on a Andre Szmyt 28 yard field goal.

Pitt got right back to work on its ensuing drive.

First, Pitt sophomore tailback V’Lique Carter ran for 21 yards to the Pitt 46 and then lost 2 yards on the subsequent snap.

Then, junior Pitt QB Kenny Pickett connected with senior grad-transfer TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart for 13 yards to the Orange 43.

This set up an incredible trick play when Pickett pitched the ball to junior tailback AJ Davis who then threw it back to Pickett, who then threw a 43 yard TD strike downfield to Pitt senior WR Aaron Mathews. The play was initially ruled an illegal forward pass but after review, the ball was clearly shown to be throw behind the line of scrimmage and overturned. Pitt 10 Syracuse 3

The Orange would tack on another Andre Szmyt 20 yard field goal after a 12 play drive that took 4:20 off the clock. Pitt 10 Orange 6

The teams would trade punts before the Pitt offense struck one more time before half.

First, Pickett found Panthers sophomore WR Shocky Jacques-Louis for 2 yards to the Syracuse 37 yard line.

Pickett then threw a short pass to junior WR Taysir Mack for 2 yards to the Orange 35.

On 3rd and 6 at Syracuse 35, Pickett threw a strike to Pitt senior WR Maurice Ffrench for 22 yards to the Orange 13.

This set up an 8 yard run by Carter run to the Orange 5.

On the next snap, Davis salted the drive with a 5 yard TD run. Pitt 17 Syracuse 6.

The Pitt defense snuffed the Orange offense all day. This included 9 sacks and eventually caused Orange starting QB Tommy DeVito to leave the game with concussion like symptoms.

The Orange next series was no different as DeVito eventually gave way to the Syracuse transfer QB Clayton Welch.

Pitt sophomore DT Jaylen Twyman was once again a menace in the Orange backfield and contributed a sack and 2 tackles for loss.

This led Pitt’s best drive of the game just before halftime.

Pickett started the drive with a screen pass Davis for 6 yards to the Pitt 21 but then missed on his next pass.

Davis then found a crease and scampered 15 yards to the Pitt 36.

Pickett would just miss Jacques-Louis on the next play but then tried it again and Syracuse was flagged for pass interference.

Pitt junior tailback Todd Sibley Jr. then tacked on a 4 yard run to the Syracuse 47 yard line.

After Pickett missed on a slant route to Mack, he connected with Ffrench on a shallow cross for 16 yards to the Orange 31.

Pickett then missed on a pass intended for Aaron Mathews but this set up Davis to run for 17 yards to the Syracuse 14.

Pickett then fired a strike to Ffrench for a 14 yard TD pass on a pretty curl route. Pitt 24 Syracuse 6 at the half.

Syracuse would outscore Pitt 14-3 in the second half as the Panthers offense would again went into hibernation.

Pitt though would prevail 27-20 and this sets up a showdown with the Miami Hurricanes next Saturday at Heinz Field.

Notes:
* Pitt leads the all-time series with Syracuse 40-32-1
* Pitt is now 6-1 all-time vs Syracuse in ACC play
* Pitt trails the all-time series with Miami 11-26
* Pitt is 2-4 vs Miami in ACC play

Next up: Miami at Pitt, 12pm Noon EST, ESPN