Pitt Gameday Blog

It’s finally here, it’s finally Pitt Gameday! I’ll be heading to the stadium in a few and will be updating this throughout the day; from pre game to post game with my thoughts and notes.

Aside from me writing, I’m hoping that you’ll be active as well by leaving your comments.

UPDATE (5:41 AM)-

** Just got on Twitter and saw that Pitt will be hosting a huge prospect from the Class of 2017.  4-star TE Charles Reeves tweeted that he’ll be coming for the game today. I’m not sure if this was a last minute decision or if I was getting a lot of “smokescreen” this week because I was under the impression that no major 2017 prospects would be attending today. I’ll make sure to get a picture of Reeves and see if I can talk with him for a few minutes.

** Pitt 2017 commitment Kenny Pickett was very productive in only 2.5 quarters of play last night. The New Jersey recruit was 11-13 for 204 yards, 1 passing TD with 8 rushes for 80 yards and 2 rushing TD’s.

UPDATE (5:58 AM)-

** Pitt 2017 commitment Darian Street had 4 catches for 176 yards and 2 TD’s. I’m also reading that Street had a 81 yard TD catch called back because of a penalty.

UPDATE (8:11 AM)-

** I’m being told that after receiving an invitation, Pine-Richland 2019 LB Tyler King will be attending the Pitt opener today. King has been a starting linebacker for Pine-Richland since his freshman season.

UPDATE (12:55 PM)-

**Sorry for the delay but had trouble with the WIFI on the field.

Have spent the past 30 minutes talking with recruits on the field. I’ve spotted 2 really big recruits. The first one is 4-star TE Charles Reeves from Steubenville, Ohio. The thing that stands out about him is his size. Wow is he big.

Charles Reeves (Photo credit: Mike Vukovcan)

** The other high profile recruit here is is 2018 DE KJ Henry from North Carolina. Henry is the #2 ranked DE in the entire country and one of the top 20 players.

CJ Henry (Photo credit: Mike Vukovcan)

UPDATE (1:30 PM)-

Alan Saunders with a few photos from the sidelines

Adam Bisnowaty (Photo credit: Alan Saunders)

Pregame (Photo credit: Alan Saunders)

Adam Bisnowaty (Photo credit: Alan Saunders)

UPDATE (1:40 PM)-

A couple of videos from the pregame. Including one of James Conner leading the Panthers onto the field.

UPDATE (2:00 PM)-

** Look who showed up for the opener, former Pitt great and current Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Tyler Boyd.

Former Pitt WR Tyler Boyd (Photo credit: Mike Vukovcan)

UPDATE (2:17 PM)-

**2 injuries in the 1st quarter for Pitt- LB Elijah Zeise was helped off the field on the 2nd series of the game and then DE Dewayne Hendrix was carted off the field.  No update from Pitt on either injury.  We’ll update you as soon as we learn anything.

**Stats at the end of the 1st quarter-

–James Conner 6 carries, 19 yards, Qadree Ollison 1 carry for 6 yards

–Nate Peterman 4 of 8 for 46 yards, Quadree Henderson 2 carries for 28 yards, Scott Orndoff

–Ryan Lewis 3 tackles, Jordan Whitehead 2 tackles, Avonte Maddox 1 tackle and Oluwaseun Idowu 1 tackle

UPDATE (2:46 PM)-

**Here are some of the recruits that I saw on the field prior to the game- Reeves, Henry, Ray Bordenick WR/DE (Carlynton), Xavier Teagle FB/LB (Carlynton), Alexander Riggins FB/LB (Aliquippa), Kenny Rainey DT (Aliquippa), Jack Cappabiana LB/RB (Berlin Center, Ohio), Wyatt Smith T/G (Wrightsville, PA)

UPDATE (3:00 PM)-

**East Allegheny 2018 athlete TJ Banks was also at Heinz Fields today.  Banks will be one of the top area recruits next season.

TJ Banks (Photo Courtesy- Mike Vukovcan)

UPDATE (3:43 PM)-

**The football team wasn’t the only team to host recruits today. I saw Pitt basketball coach Kevin Stallings with center Terrell Brown and 4-star SG Christian David.

UPDATE (5:01 PM)-

**Trivia question- Which was the first Pitt true freshman to play this season? Answer- defensive tackle Amir Watts

UPDATE (5:21 PM)-

Final Stats from today’s 28-7 win over Villanova

**James Conner- 17 carries for 57 yards, Qadree Ollison 7 carries for 32 yards, Darrin Hall 6 carries for 17 yards

**Nate Peterman- 19 of 32 for 175 yards and 2 TD’s

**Scott Orndoff 5 catches for 68 yards, Jester Weah 4 catches for 38 yards, Quadree Henderson 4 catches for 35 yards, James Conner 3 catches for 16 yards

**Terrish Webb 6 tackles, Jordan Whitehead 6 tackles, Ryan Lewis 4 tackles, Avonte Maddox 3 tackles 2 sacks,  Ejuan Price 1.5 sacks, Mike Caprara 1.5 sacks,

**First Downs: Pitt 17-14, Rushing Yards: Pitt 86-53, Passing Yards: Pitt 175-119, Penalties: Pitt 3 for 40 Villanova 7 for 55 yards, 3rd Down Conversions Pitt 6 of 15 Villanova 4 of 16,  Time of Possession  Villanova 30:17, Pitt 29:43