Pitt Rushes To Bowl Berth, Sets Eyes on Wake Forest

Pitt ran. They ran again. And again. So much so that when the dust settled, Pitt had amassed 492 rushing yards in their 52-22 rout Saturday over Virginia Tech at Heinz Field. It was the most rushing yards for Pitt in a game since the Tony Dorsett-led Panthers ran for 530 yards against Army in 1975.

It was fitting on senior day that the Pitt seniors went out as winners. And there were many of them responsible for the win.

After holding the Hokies to punts on their first two possessions, Pitt sophomore kicker Alex Kessman nailed a 48 yard field goal on Pitt’s first possession.

That set up the Pitt ground game.

Two 5th year seniors did so in dramatic fashion. First, Pitt senior tailback Qadree Ollison ran for 27 yards to the Pitt 47. Ollison would eclipse 1000 yards rushing on the season and become just the 6th Pitt Panther to do so at least twice in his college career.

After Pitt sophomore QB Kenny Pickett was sacked by Virginia Tech’s Dax Hollifield for a loss of 8 yards, the Panthers other senior tailback legend Darrin Hall burst for 53 yards to the Hokies 8 yard line.

Moments later, Ollison bullied his way 8 yards for the easy TD. Pitt 10 Va Tech 0.

The Pitt defense then forced Va Tech to punt again before turning to the air on its next series.

On just one play, Pickett then dropped a dime into the hands of Pitt junior WR Maurice Ffrench who sprinted 78 yards untouched for the score. Pitt 17 Virginia Tech 0.

After the Hokies placekicker Brian Johnson missed a 40 yard field goal, Pitt nearly grabbed a 24-0 lead.

Instead, in an attempt to score Pickett was popped at the 3 yard line by Va Tech’s Jermaine Waller and the ball was jarred loose. The fumble was recovered in the end zone by Va Tech’s Rico Kearney. The turnover wasted another brilliant 58 yard run by Hall in the process prior to the play.

Hall, by the way, would finish the day with 7 carries, 186 yards and 1 TD. Ollison, by comparison, finished the day with 16 carries, 235 yards and 3 TDs. It was the most rushing yards Virginia Tech surrendered in nearly 30 yards. Pitt would rush for an incredible total of 492 yards.

On the ensuing drive, Virginia Tech got on the scoreboard when QB Ryan Willis connected with a wide open Hokies WR Eric Kumah for a 29 yard TD. Pitt 17 Va Tech 7

Pitt wasted no time getting back to its punishing run attack.

First, Ollison scampered for 32 yards to the Hokies 43 yard line, then he added another dazzling 21 yard run to the Hokies 22 yard line.

Although Hall was stopped for a loss of 2 yards, Pickett ran untouched for 13 yards to the Va Tech 11 yard line.

Hall would lose another yard before Ffrench would take a jet sweep 12 yards to pay dirt. Pitt 24 Va Tech 7.

Pitt would then force another Va Tech punt and go back to the air.

After missing on a pass to Ffrench, Pickett handed it off to Ollison for 6 yards. He then scampered 7 yards to the Hokies 39 yard line for a 1st down.

Pickett then missed a wide open Ffrench on a out pattern before going deep and connecting with seldom-used Pitt sophomore WR Taysir Mack for 43 yards on an amazing throw and catch play at the goal line.

Senior bone-crusher and Pitt legend George Aston then punched it in from 1 yard out to salt the drive. Pitt 31 Va Tech 7 at half.

In the 2nd half, Pitt punted on its first possession.

Virginia Tech responded when Willis found WR Eric Kumah for a 5 yard TD and subsequently a 2 point conversion. The drive was aided by 15 yard penalties by Pitt corner Dane Jackson. However, on the 2 point conversion it appeared as though Kumah had clearly pushed off to gain separation. A tactic Va Tech has been known for over the years. Pitt 31 Va Tech 15.

The TD though mattered very little to the outcome of the game.

On its very next series, Pitt fed its two senior superstar tailbacks.

Hall gained 2 yards before running through a mammoth hole 73 yards to pay dirt. It should be noted that 4 seniors were responsible for creating that hole. They are Stefano Millin at left tackle, Connor Dintino at left guard, Virginia native Mike Herndon at right guard and Alex Boosker at right tackle. Sophomore center Jimmy Morrissey has also dominated to help Pitt win 3 straight games and 4 out of their last 5 contests. Other notable blockers include junior WR Aaron Matthews and Pitt legend George Aston.

Va Tech did manage to gain a moment of small revenge when Willis found WR Damon Hazelton for a 24 yard TD play both that Pitt’s Phil Campbell and Jason Pinnock failed to wrap up a tackle. Pitt 38 Va Tech 22. The Va Tech drive lasted 13 plays for 95 yards and took 6:30 off the clock.

Pitt wasted no time in responding. Ffrench took the ensuing kickoff by Jordan Stout 33 yards but was awarded 15 additional yards when Stout hit Ffrench out of bounds well after the play.

Ollison lost 3 yards before gaining 10 and 4 yards to the Va Tech 39 yard line.

Pickett almost connected with Ollison on a pretty curl route but the pass fell incomplete. Pickett then decided to run QB keepers of 6 and 2 yards that set up yet another dramatic 4th down play. This time, Pitt legend Ollison burst 31 yards to pay dirt to salt the drive. Pitt 45 Va Tech 22.

After stopping a 10 play Va Tech drive, Pitt’s final possession turned out to a 1 play, record-book highlight reel moment.

Ollison, from his own 3 yard line, bullied Va Tech for 97 yards and in the process stiff-armed a Va Tech defender to complete the longest TD run ever by a Pitt Panther. Pitt 52 Va Tech 22.

Va Tech did manage another 10 play drive but it ended when back-up QB Quincy Patterson’s pass fell incomplete to Hokies WR Tre Turner.

Notes: Pitt is now 8-10 all-time vs Virginia Tech

With the win, Pitt became bowl-eligible for the 14th time in 18 years (since 2000) – missing only 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2017.

Pitt also only needs to win 1 more game before clinching the ACC’s Coastal Division.

Next up: Pitt at Wake Forest, 12pm Noon EST – ACC Network

Pitt has never played Wake Forest before in football.