PITTSBURGH — Pitt started the game relatively slow, with a number of key guys sitting out against the Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens. Redshirt freshman Nick Patti made his first career start for Kenny Pickett, who suffered a mild shoulder injury last week against UCF. Chase Pine and
Pitt also, was missing two of their top three running backs. A.J. Davis and Vincent Davis both were not dressed for the Panthers. Jason Pinnock also sat out, as he suffered an injury against UCF last week.
With no scoring through the first quarter, Pitt finally scored on the first play of the second quarter, with a 30-yard strike down the seam from Patti to sophomore running back V’Lique Carter.
Patti went unblemished until he threw an interception to Delaware midway through the second quarter. Delaware took advantage and quarterback Nolan Henderson threw a seven-yard touchdown to knot things up at seven.
After Delaware’s score, Pitt went 73 yards to set up a 20-yard field goal from Alex Kessman with eight seconds remaining in the second quarter. Pitt took a 10-7 lead into the break.
On the second play of second half Maurice Ffrench fumbled at the Pitt 21-yard line and was recovered by Delaware. The Fightin’ Blue Hens capitalized, with a five-yard touchdown pass and catch. UDel took their first lead of the game, 14-10.
After a lot of nothing for the Pitt offense, Patti hits Taysir Mack for 48-yards and then 12-yards, for a Panther touchdown. Pitt took a 17-14 lead, early in the fourth.
With a number of starters sitting out, Pitt avoided the upset and walked away with a 17-14 win.
Pitt’s defense held Delaware to 170 total yards in the game.
The Panthers improve to 3-2 on the season and now will begin a stretch of seven straight ACC games. They will head to Durham, NCÂ to play Duke at 8:00 PM next Saturday.
The coaches did a lousy job of getting the team emotionally and mentally prepared to play. The kids need to look in the mirror and realize you only play once a week and you always have to be ready. Their total disrespect for Delaware was evident and it almost cost them dearly. As someone that attended the game I can honestly say I did not enjoy myself at all and that the lack of emotion and discipline was disgusting
A lot of bone head penalties and sloppy ball security almost put Duzz on the hot seat.
Nothing like spending hard earned money to loyally support the team as I always have and seeing that insolent disgrace of a human being have an NBA style rest day. Hey Pat! They only play 12 games there amigo. What are you saving them for? If Nard dog loses that game he should have had his employment terminated immediately .
Right, we should play injured players so we can lose them for the rest of the year.
Playing the backups was the right call even though it was ugly.
Amazingly enough Clark if they were playing WVU they would have played. The bottom line is they disrespected their opponent, came in with big heads and undisciplined and almost suffered the most embarrassing loss on the programs history. If you were at the game that was worse than ugly.