Pitt Outlasts Syracuse 44-37 in OT
It wasn’t pretty. It never is when you have a one dimensional offense and a defense that fails to get off the field on 3rd down.
Nonetheless, Pitt survived Syracuse on Saturday 44-37 in Overtime to even its record at 3-3 overall (2-1 in the ACC).
After spotting Syracuse a first-possession TD, Pitt freshman WR Shocky Jacques-Louis fumbled a jet sweep that was forced by The Orange’s Alton Robinson. 5 plays later, Syracuse scored again and led 14-0.
Pitt went right back to what it does best: run the football.
After Pitt junior WR Maurice Ffrench ran for 6 yards to the Pitt 31, the Panthers placed the ball into the hands of superstar Pitt senior tailback Qadree Ollison. Running between the tackles, Ollison burst 69 yards almost untouched to paydirt. Syracuse 14 Pitt 7
On the next Orange possession, senior Syracuse QB Eric Dungey tried to gain extra yards but in the process fumbled the ball at the Orange 37 yard line. The ball was stripped by Pitt senior LB Quintin Wirginis and recovered by Pitt junior corner Dane Jackson who returned for 35 yards for the Panthers TD. The score was suddenly tied at 14.
Syracuse would punt two more times while Pitt would punt once before redshirt sophomore kicker Alex Kessman booted an incredible 54 yard field goal in the rain. Pitt 17 Syracuse 14.
On its next possession, Syracuse QB Eric Dungey pass was intercepted by Pitt junior DT Amir Watts at the Orange 48 yard line. Apparently, Watts for the first time in memory dropped back in coverage and fooled Dungey.
This led to an even more amazing field goal by Alex Kessman. This time he booted a 55 yarder, a Heinz Field all-time record.
The teams traded punts again before Syracuse tacked on a 33 yard field goal by kicker Andre Szmyt.
On its final drive of the first half, Pitt appeared to be in position to score. This was after sophomore QB Kenny Pickett threw a perfect back-shoulder pass to Ffrench for 32 yards to the Orange 20 yard line. But on the very next snap, Pickett threw an ill-advised pass to Ffrench in the end zone but this time it was intercepted by Syracuse’s Christopher Fredrick. Pitt led Syracuse 20-17 at the half.
In the second half, Pitt tried to take control of the game.
First, Pickett handed off to Ollison who ran a hard 7 yards to the Pitt 32 yard line. Ollison would finish the day with an incredible 192 yards on 24 carries and 1 TD.
Then, Pickett tossed a bubble screen pass to Pitt senior WR Rafael Araujo-Lopes who dashed 68 yards for a tremendous sideline TD. Pitt 27 Syracuse 17.
The Pitt defense could not hold the lead. Syracuse would add two more touchdowns in response, after a nearly 2 hour weather delay. Syracuse 34 Pitt 27.
On Pitt’s next possession, Pickett was sacked by Alton Robinson and fumbled the ball. It was recovered by the Orange’s Syrac Ryan Guthrie. The Pitt defense, though, would hold Syracuse to a field goal and the Orange led 34-27.
Pitt would answer the bell again on offense.
After Ollison had an amazing 29 yard run, he tacked on another 3 yarder to the Orange 43 yard line.
That’s when Ollison’s running mate, Pitt senior tailback Darrin Hall got into the act. After two rushes for 3 yards each, Hall scampered 25 yards to the Syracuse 8 yard line. He then gained one more yard before taking a direct snap on a wildcat formation and scored from 7 yards out. Game tied at 34.
Hall would finish the day with 107 yards on 17 carries and 2 TDs.
On the Orange’s final drive of regulation, Dungey completed an apparent pass to senior WR Jamal Custis for 42 yards to the Pitt 30 yard line. Custis, though, was clearly not in full possession of the ball and was out of bounds on the replay. Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi tried to call the time-out for the replay but was denied.
Later, Dungey’s pass fell incomplete was it failed to pass the line of scrimmage under heavy duress. No penalty was called. This led to another Andre Szmyt 54 yard field goal by Syracuse. The Orange led 37-34.
Pitt then had no choice but to turn to its power running game to send it to overtime.
Ollison pounded the rock on runs of 5, 11 and 5 yards before Hall added runs of 1 yard each. On 4th and 3, however, Ollison completed the super-human effort first down at the Syracuse 49 yard line.
Ollison then took over the game. He bullied the Orange defense for runs of 4, 5, 7, 3 and 3 yards. Then, Pickett would miss on a pass to Araujo-Lopes before the game’s other hero Alex Kessman booted a 45 yard field goal with 8 seconds left. Game tied at 37.
In overtime, Pitt went right back to the pounding the ball.
Ollison started the extra session with a 9 yard burst before Hall added a run of 6 yards to the Orange 10 yard line.
Ollison added a 4 yard run before Hall salted the drive with 2 final runs of 3 yards each to put Pitt ahead for good. Pitt 44 Syracuse 37.
On Syracuse’s final play, Dungey threw a hotly contested pass in the end zone but it was intercepted by Pitt redshirt freshman safety Therran Coleman.
Notes:
Pitt now leads the overall series with Syracuse 39-32-3
Next up:
Pitt at Notre Dame, NBC at 3:30pm EST
Notre Dame leads the overall series vs Pitt 48-21-1
