Pitt Drops Season Finale 29-24 to Miami

Much like the other true tests for the 2015 Panthers, Pitt got blown out in the first half and couldn’t muster enough of a comeback in the second half to win in a 29-24 season finale loss to the Miami Hurricanes at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

As was the case in games against Iowa, Notre Dame and North Carolina (all losses), Pitt got beat up front against the Canes and was clearly outclassed talent-wise in most key positions on the field.

Miami wasted no time on its first series.

Canes sophomore QB Brad Kaaya missed his first pass but then handed it off to sophomore tailback Joseph Yearby for 4 yards. Kaaya then found redshirt senior WR Rashawn Scott for 7 yards before handing it back to Yearby who lost a few yards and then burned Pitt for 35 yards to the Panthers 5 yard line.

Yearby tacked on 4 more yards to the Pitt 1 yard line and then Kaaya, after 2 more previous failed attempts, punched it home for a questionable 4th down goaline touchdown. Miami led Pitt, 7-0.

Pitt’s offense came out sluggish and unprepared in response.

Panther redshirt freshman tailback Qadree Ollison ran first ran 4 yards to the Pitt 29 yard line when junior transfer QB Nathan Peterman pass was intercepted by Miami’s Artie Burns and returned it 19 yards to the Pitt 23 yard line.

Miami’s offense stalled on its second possession and settled for a Michael Badgley 33 yard field goal. Miami 10 Pitt 0.

Pitt tried to respond but after 10 plays, junior placekicker Chris Blewitt missed a 48 yard field goal.

The Hurricanes went back on offense and in just 2 plays scored again.

Kaaya first connected on a deep pass to junior WR Stacy Coley for 48 yards to the Pitt 22 yard line. The Panthers secondary failed to find the football in the air once again.

Then, Kaaya threw an easy 22 yard TD pass to Scott for 22 yards. Miami 17 Pitt 0.

After the teams traded field goals, Miami would tack on an additional Badgley field goal and the Canes led 23-3 over Pitt at halftime.

The Panthers started to show some signs of life on its second series of the second half.

And that sparkplug was Pitt’s true freshman tailback Darrin Hall.

Hall ran the ball hard 5 times and put the Panthers first TD on the board in the process. Preceded by carries of 9, 8, 4 and 5 yards, Hall busted his final run off-tackle for 35 yards to paydirt. Miami 23 Pitt 10.

Hall would finish the day with 12 carries for 103 yards and 1 TD.

Miami would add 2 more Badgley field goals before kicking off to Pitt’s dynamic returner true freshman Quadree Henderson, who returned it for 89 yards to the Miami 2 yard line.

Peterman then tossed a pretty 2 yard TD pass to Pitt junior TE Scott Orndoff. Miami still led 29-18.

After Miami punted two more times and Blewitt missed another field goal, Pitt made one last comeback attempt with roughly 2 minutes left in the game.

Peterman connected with superstar junior WR Tyler Boyd for 36 yards to the Miami 5 yard line. It was probably Boyd’s last home game ever as a Pitt Panther.

After missing Boyd twice, Peterman tucked it and ran it into the endzone 5 yards for the Pitt TD. The Panthers would miss the 2 point conversion. The game ended shortly thereafter with Miami beating Pitt 29-24.

Notes: Miami finished the season 8-4 overall, 5-3 in the ACC. A season in which head coach Al Golden was fired and replaced by interim head coach Larry Scott. Miami also suffered its worst loss in school history, 58-0 to Clemson.

Pitt also finished the season 8-4 overall but was a game better in the ACC with a 6-2 conference record. Pitt was 3-3 at home and 5-1 on the road.

Miami now leads the overall series versus Pitt 23-10-1 and hasn’t lost at Pitt since September 1997, a game played at old Pitt Stadium, a season in which the Hurricanes finished 5-6 and faced NCAA sanctions. The Hurricanes improved to 5-0 all-time at Heinz Field with wins in 2001, 2003, 2010, 2013 and 2015.

Next up: Pitt vs TBD – Bowl Opponent to be announced next week