PITTSBURGH — Heroes don’t always arise from the places — or Pitt players — you’d expect.
Eli Holstein and WVU quarterback Garrett Greene were expected to make an impact. The same can be said for players like Konata Mumpfield, Kenny Johnson, Kyle Louis and Donovan McMillon. There likely weren’t many surprised by their play in the Backyard Brawl.
But Daejon Reynolds and Maverick Gracio? That’s a little bit different. Pitt wouldn’t have been able to come back and beat West Virginia in the 107th Backyard Brawl without their unexpected heroes.
Daejon Reynolds received his first target of the season with 3:15 left in the third game of the season. It just happened to be the Backyard Brawl.
Reynolds was a starter last season — targeted 50 times, which was third-most on the team — but wasn’t targeted against Kent State or Cincinnati. He’s seen his snaps go down, and his role diminished early this season but hasn’t pouted. He hasn’t whined about it or made a scene or anything of the sort.
No, he lined up out wide late in the fourth quarter with WVU cornerback Dontez Fagan giving him a 5-yard cushion and ran his route. Fagan hung off him the whole way, with fellow WVU defensive backs Anthony Wilson and Ayden Garnes in the area, but Reynolds wouldn’t be denied.
Eli Holstein stepped up in the pocket and put his trust in Reynolds — in the form of a 40-yard dart to the end zone. The majority of the stadium didn’t know it until Reynolds bounced up and started to celebrate. But Reynolds’ teammates knew he’d come up with the football.
“DaeDae makes that catch 100 times out of 100 times,” Kenny Johnson said after the game.
The Reynolds touchdown, which came on the heels of a 28-yard touchdown from WVU wide receiver Justin Robinson, in which he nearly yanked Ryland Gandy’s helmet off, gave the Pitt defense a chance to force a three-and-out and allow Holstein a chance to go win the football game.
Holstein didn’t disappoint. He’s the ACC Quarterback of the Week for a reason.
But if not for a crucial third quarter touchdown (in a third quarter in which the offense mustered -2 yards), the Reynolds touchdown likely wouldn’t have mattered. The game likely would’ve already been out of reach if not for Maverick Gracio’s special teams heroics.
Gracio — a second-year freshman defensive end from West Palm Beach, Fla. — made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against Kent State. And he etched his name into Backyard Brawl history two weeks later.
Gracio took advantage of soft special teams work from WVU, after the Mountaineers converted a fake punt on 4th-and-3 earlier in the drive, and raced in off the edge to get his hands up and block WVU punter Oliver Straw’s punt. Brandon George scooped it up and raced back the other way for a go-ahead touchdown midway through the third quarter.
“That was big,” Pat Narduzzi said Monday at his weekly presser. “It was even bigger after they faked the punt with 10 guys on the field. The guy that’s supposed to secure the punt, makes sure he punts it, would have been off that edge. Even bigger after that. Usually after a faked punt like that, the momentum change, you’re going to give up points. Went the other way.”
The blocked punt, and subsequent score, got Pitt through a tough stretch of the third quarter. It was vital. If Gracio doesn’t block that punt, with the offense looked at that point in the game and the way the defensive line was wearing down, the outcome is likely very different.
It took a team effort. The 350 yards and three touchdowns from Holstein were huge, as were the 26 combined tackles from Louis and Rasheem Biles.
But it was truly a team effort. It took 59 and a half minutes, but Pitt took a 4-point lead and didn’t look back. And of course, the stars showed out. But the unexpected heroes showed up, too.
And it’s those unexpected heroes — those unexpected moments — that make the Backyard Brawl so special. Of course, a win made it even more special.
Just look at the scream of pure excitement from Reynolds when he bounced up off the grass with the football.
Great point about unexpected heroes! That is the great part about team sports. It takes the whole team to win these big games And good for Daejon Reynolds and Maverick Gracio for being ready and coming up big when opportunity knocked!!
Also, happy for Nate Yarnell and Derrick Davis for coming up big when we really needed them. Happy for PITT Nation this was a big win!!
Good article but Daejon Reynolds being labeled as an unexpected hero to me isn’t truly unexpected for a player of his caliber. He did have 8 catches for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns in a game against Vanderbilt while still with the Florida Gators.
I can see Gracio being a young player being labeled as an unexpected hero but I personally expect Reynolds to be capable of big things. Our group of receivers is just deep and that’s something that really couldn’t be said in previous years.
Great recap. Still feeling great about the Brawl.