Pitt’s Defense Stops Virginia In 31-14 Home Win

Pitt’s much maligned 2017 defense has seen some improved play in the last 2 weeks. After knocking off the Duke Blue Devils a week ago, the Panthers returned home to defeat the Virginia Cavaliers 31-14 yesterday in similar fashion.

Despite a very weak pass rush all season long, Pitt was able to hold Cavs senior QB Kurt Benkert in check all day.

It all started on Virginia’s first possession of the day.

After the Pitt offense went 3 and out on its opening drive, Benkert floated a 3rd and 5 pass to Pitt’s middle linebacker Saleem Brightwell who returned for it 16 yards to the Pitt 49 yard line.

That’s when the Pitt offense and emerging tailback star junior Darrin Hall took over.

First, sophomore QB Ben Dinucci found junior tailback Qadree Ollison for 16 yards to the Cavs 35. This was followed up by Dinucci getting chased out of bounds that resulted in an 8 yard loss to the Cavs 43 yard line.

DiNucci then went to superstar junior kick returner / WR Quadree Henderson for 7 yards before finding junior college transfer WR Rafael Araujo-Lopes for 18 yards to the Virginia 18 yard line.

Thats when Hall took over. He took the first hand off 4 yards to the Hoos 14 yard line, then he burst up the middle for 14 yards to pay dirt. Pitt 7 Virginia 0.

After Hoos placekicker A.J. Mejia missed a difficult 43 yard field goal, Pitt would punt on its 3rd possession.

This set up 6 play 21 yard drive by the Cavs. However, it would end when Virginia tailback Jordan Ellis was stuffed by the Pitt defense on a 4th and 1 at the Pitt 28 yard line. The Panthers would take over on downs.

Hall would ignite the Panthers offense with a short 1 yard gain which was then followed up by Ollison’s 6 yard run to the Pitt 35 yard line.

This led to DiNucci’s tossing a beautiful post route pass to Pitt sophomore WR Maurice Ffrench for 32 yards along the sideline to the Cavs 33 yard line.

Ollison and Hall would grind it out from there. Ollison gained 8 yards on carries of 5 and 3 yards. Then Hall added 3 yards before Ollison added 3 more yards.

DiNucci tried to find senior graduate transfer (Rutgers) TE Matt Flanagan before throwing a perfect strike to Pitt senior WR Jester Weah who would elbow his way for a 19 yard TD. Pitt 14 Virginia 0.

Pitt would then force a Cavs punt before driving to the Virginia 25 yard line. This set up a 43 yard field goal, which Pitt placekicker Alex Kessman missed.

After Benkert’s following drive faltered, Virginia’s punter Lester Coleman kicked a line drive to Pitt superstar Punt Returner Quadree Henderson, who returned it on one hop for 75 yards in spectacular fashion for a TD.

On its next possession, the Hoos would drive to the Pitt 37 yard line. Then, on 4th and 5, Pitt’s sophomore cornerback Dane Jackson would break up a Benkert TD pass attempt in the end zone.

After forcing a Pitt punt, the Cavs would though finally strike back.

Benkert found senior WR Doni Dowling on a pretty 2nd and 10 pass for 41 yards to the Pitt 19 yard line. On the very next play, Hoos WR Hasise Dubois made an amazing catch for a 19 yard TD catch from Benkert on a post route. Pitt 21 Virginia 7 at half.

The Pitt defense started the second half by again forcing a 3 and out on the Cavs opening possession.

This would set up the Panthers going back to its game on offense. That is, grinding it on the ground, eating clock and throwing the ball efficiently.

First, Dinucci scampered out of the pocket for 10 yards to the Pitt 28 line. Hall would then tack on runs of 9 and 3 yards to the Pitt 40 yard line.

DiNucci then threw a 12 yard strike to Weah which was followed up by the Pitt running machine of Hall and Ollison.

Hall burst for 13 yards on runs of 5 and 8 yards. Ollison took the rock 5 more yards to the Virginia 30 yard line.

After DiNucci would add 4 yards and Hall one yard, Ollison had an amazing cut back run on 1st down from the Cavs 25 yard line and took it to the house. Pitt 28 Virginia 7.

Virginia would then punt on its 2nd possession of the 3rd Quarter before forcing an errant DiNucci pass (intended for Flanagan) which sailed into the arms of Hoos star free safety Quin Blanding at the Pitt 42 yard line.

The Cavs would take the turnover down to the Pitt 2 yard line and on 4th down, Benkert would find backup TE Richard Burney for the tightrope score. Pitt 28 Virginia 14.

Pitt then drove down the Hoos 12 yard line on the ensuing series, but settled for a 30 yard Kessman field goal. Pitt 31 Virginia 14.

Desperate to get back into game down 3 scores, the Cavs drove 14 plays for 79 yards down to the Pitt 1 yard line. On 4th and goal, this set up perhaps the game’s most exciting play. The Cavs tailback Ellis would ultimately get stuffed again for no gain and the Pitt defense held.

Pitt would punt on its final series and Benkert would again drive the Cavs deep into Panther territory. On 4th and goal from the Pitt 10, Benkert’s final pass would fall incomplete which was intended by Dubois and this time broken up by Pitt junior cornerback Phillipie Motley.

Pitt 31 Virginia 14 FINAL.

Up Next: North Carolina at Pitt, Thursday night, ESPN 11/9 at 7pm EST.

Notes:

• Pitt has now beaten Virginia 4 out of 5 times since entering the ACC in 2013 and leads the overall series with the Hoos 7-3. Virginia has never won at Pittsburgh.

2017/10/28 Pittsburgh 31 – Virginia 14 W
2016/10/15 Pittsburgh 45 – Virginia 31 W
2015/10/10 Pittsburgh 26 – Virginia 19 W
2014/10/04 Pittsburgh 19 – Virginia 24 L
2013/09/28 Pittsburgh 14 – Virginia 3 W
2007/09/29 Pittsburgh 14 – Virginia 44 L
2006/09/02 Pittsburgh 38 – Virginia 13 W
2003/12/27 Pittsburgh 16 – Virginia 23 L !! Continental Tire Bowl !!
1955/11/05 Pittsburgh 18 – Virginia 7 W
1953/11/07 Pittsburgh 26 – Virginia 0 W

• Conversely, Pitt has lost 4 straight games to North Carolina and has never beaten the Tar Heels as a member of the ACC.

• Pitt’s last win (19-17) over North Carolina was in the 2009 Meineke Bowl when Dave Wannstedt was head coach at Pitt.