Northwestern Slips By Pitt 31-24 in Pinstripe Bowl

The much maligned Pitt defense took yet another beating yesterday as the Panthers fell 31-24 to the Northwestern Wildcats in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY). The Panthers surrendered nearly 500 yards of offense in the losing effort.

Normally, the thrashing would be through the air (Pitt is ranked next to last in the FBS in pass defense) but Northwestern was able to gash most of the yardage on the ground including 224 yards, 3 TDs on 32 carries from the game’s MVP Justin Jackson.

While the Pitt defense struggled mightily, the Pitt offense again looked potent but failed to convert numerous opportunities in the red zone that contributed to the loss.

After the Wildcats spotted the Panthers an early field goal, they were able to stop Pitt twice within the 5 yard line on its next series. On 3rd down, junior h-back George Aston slipped just before he could score and Pitt superstar junior tailback James Conner was stopped at the goal line on 4th down.

The Wildcats would claw their way out of their end zone and get a big play from Jackson on a 68 yard run up the middle. They were eventually able to reach pay dirt after Northwestern’s QB Clayton Thorson handed it off to Jackson who waltzed into the end zone from 8 yards out. Northwestern 7 Pitt 3.

Pitt would drive deep into Northwestern territory on its next series but turned the ball over inside the Wildcat 10 yard line. Fifth year senior QB Nathan Peterman (who played his last game at Pitt) hit Panther All-American special teamer and WR Quadree Henderson for 37 yards. This was followed up by 2 runs by Conner (who declared for the NFL draft next season and will not return to Pitt) for 21 yards and 3 yards that left Pitt at 2nd and 3 from the Wildcat 5 yard line.

After a false start penalty, Peterman’s pass was intercepted by Wildcat DB Godwin Igwebuike who returned it 12 yards to the Northwestern 15 yard line.

Northwestern would drive the length of the field on its ensuing drive but Thorson’s pass would be intercepted by Pitt junior cornerback Avonte Maddox in the end zone.

Pitt would punt the ball back to the Wildcats which set up the Wildcats next scoring drive. Following Thorson’s pass completions to Macan Wilson (32 yards) and Austin Carr (12 yards), Jackson would take the resulting handoff off tackle to easy paydirt from 16 yards out basically untouched. The Pitt defense looked horribly out of position and completely lost in basic assignment football. Northwestern 14 Pitt 3.

After Henderson returned the Wildcat kickoff 17 yards to the Panthers 31 yard line, Peterman hit Pitt junior WR Jester Weah in stride on a post route for a 69 yard TD strike to pull the Panthers back into the game. Northwestern 14 Pitt 10 at the half.

Pitt regained the lead on its first series of the second half.

After the Wildcats tried to kick it away from Quadree Henderson, a rather smart strategy, on the kickoff they weren’t so lucky on Pitt’s first Jet Sweep of the second half.

On the first Panther play from scrimmage, Henderson would blow past the Wildcat defense all the way down to the Northwestern 11 yard line on a 57 yard rocket burst. After seldom used Quadree Ollison lost 3 yards (after slipping), Peterman would hand off yet another Jet Sweep, this time to Pitt redshirt junior WR Rafael Araujo-Lopes for 9 yards. Peterman cleaned up the drive by scampering untouched into the end zone from 5 yards out. Pitt 17 Northwestern 14.

Northwestern gashed Pitt on its first series of the second half on a 14 play, 89 yard drive that was capped off by Jackson’s 40 yard TD run. Northwestern 21 Pitt 17.

Pitt would come up empty-handed on its second possession despite a nice 30 yard completion from Peterman to Ollison on the drive. Clemson game-winning hero senior PK Chris Blewitt would miss wide-right on a 43 yard field goal. It was Blewitt’s last FG attempt as a Panther.

The Panther defense did hold the Wildcats to a 3 and out on the ensuing drive and would use Special Teams to climb back into the game.

Pitt freshman tailback Chawntez Moss blocked Northwestern’s Hunter Niswander punt and would take a handoff on Pitt’s next play for no gain at the Wildcat 22 yard line.

After Peterman was struck to the head, either incidental or not, on the previous series Pitt had to resort to redshirt sophomore QB Ben DiNucci to assume control of the offense. It was DiNucci’s first real action since playing high school football at Pine Richland in Wexford, PA in 2014. Peterman’s career at Pitt though came to an end.

Henderson took a Jet Sweep for 4 yards before DiNucci got the rust off by hitting Pitt senior WR Dontez Ford for 7 yards to the Northwestern 11 yard line. This ended the 3rd Quarter with Pitt trailing 21-17.

Moss started the 4th Quarter with a 3 yard run and DiNucci inched the ball closer for 2 yards before he hit Aston from 6 yards out to score. Aston made an amazing play stretching his arms across the goal line this time. Pitt 24 Northwestern 17.

On the very next series, Northwestern pulled ahead for good. The 14 play, 76 yard drive was capped by Thorson’s 21 yard TD pass to Garrett Dickerson. Northwestern 28 Pitt 24.

Henderson would then fumble on Pitt’s next series and this led to a 37 yard field goal by Northwestern PK Jack Mitchell. Northwestern 31 Pitt 24.

DiNucci would drive the Panthers all the way down the field (10 plays for 50 yards) on its next series and even threw a perfect pass to senior TE Scott Orndoff (also playing his last game at Pitt) in the endzone but the ball would somehow slip through Orndoff’s hands incomplete. In desperation on 4th down and 10, DiNucci was then intercepted at the Wildcat 3 yard line by Jared McGee.

After Pitt held the Wildcats to a 3 and out on its next series, DiNucci’s last pass was ultimately intercepted by Wildcat DB Kyle Queiro who salted the game. Northwestern 31 Pitt 24 Final.

Notes:

* Pitt is now 13-20 in its bowl history including 3 straight losses and 5 losses in its past 6 bowl games
* Pitt said goodbye to superstars redshirt junior James Conner (declared for the NFL), OG Dorian Johnson (senior), DE Juan Price (senior), QB Nate Peterman (senior), Tyrique Jarrett (DT, who did not play due to injury) and Scott Orndoff (senior)
* Johnson, Conner, Peterman, and Darrin Hall Jr (sophomore tailback) were knocked out of the game either due to apparent helmet to helmet contact by Northwestern or other football related injuries
* Other notable Pitt seniors who graduated were WR Dontez Ford, PK Chris Blewitt and LBs Mike Caprara and Bam Bradley
* Sophomore safety superstar Jordan Whitehead also did not play
* The Pitt defense surrendered 462 yards of offense to Northwestern (248 yards rushing; 214 yards passing)
* Pitt is not only searching for a new Offensive Coordinator this off-season but also a new Athletic Director as Scott Barnes announced he’s leaving Pitt for Oregon State effective March 2017
* Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi has now finished back-to-back 8-5 seasons both ending in Bowl Losses. He is now 16-10 overall at Pitt.