Recap: Pitt Wins in Chapel Hill for the First Time, Improves to 5-0

Pitt didn’t play a particularly good game against North Carolina, outside of a couple of individual performances, but the Panthers rallied as a team to win in Chapel Hill, N.C. for the first time ever.

Pitt went into Kenan Memorial Stadium and didn’t need a late comeback to knock off North Carolina, 34-24, improving to 5-0 for the first time since 1991.

Eli Holstein was once again a model dual-threat quarterback, completing 25-of-42 pass attempts for 381 yards with three touchdowns and an interception — adding 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

He set a Pitt freshman passing record in the process.

But it was Desmond Reid who truly made the difference. Reid carried the ball 18 times for 55 hard yards, running into some very tough conditions. But he hauled in 11 receptions for 155 yards and a touchdown — setting up two more scores.

And while the Pitt defense wasn’t perfect, a trio of turnover on downs (and a game-sealing sack by Kyle Louis late in the fourth quarter) was enough to stifle a Tar Heels’ offense that can put up points.

Pitt struck first, a 24-yard field goal from the unflappable Ben Sauls, but it wasn’t so easy going throughout the first half.

Pitt gave UNC its first points, an 84-yard pick-six — courtesy of Tar Heels cornerback Kaleb Cost, who jumped a pass intended for Poppi Williams and raced almost untouched back to the end zone.

Pitt responded with two first half touchdowns, set up by Reid both times (a 72-yard catch-and-run on the first possession and a 23-yard catch-and-run on the second). Holstein threw up a fade to Censere Lee in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown to take a 10-7 lead. And he hit Williams on a crosser for a 30-yard touchdown to take a 17-10 lead.

But Pitt wasn’t able to capitalize on its offensive explosions. Whether it was fumbles, costly special teams (and offensive line) penalties or a pick-six, the Panthers allowed the Tar Heels to stick around.

UNC took the second half kickoff, turned the ball over on downs again, and Reid continued to make plays. Holstein lobbed up a ball, on the run, to a mass of players near the goal line and Mumpfield came up with it. Two plays later, Holstein tossed a ball to Reid out of the back, who extended just enough for a touchdown to retake the lead.

Pitt had another chance to put the pressure on UNC, receiving the ball after a UNC three-and-out up by a touchdown midway through the third quarter, but couldn’t generate any offense.

UNC could on its next possession, driving 61 yards in 11 plays — capped by an 11-yard touchdown strike to tight end John Copenhaver.

But Pitt once again took the lead, courtesy of a 2-yard Holstein touchdown dash — without Reid on the field, as he jogged to the locker room after a hard hit. And the Panthers once again forced a three-and-out, the third of the game.

With a touchdown lead, early-ish in the fourth quarter, Pitt had yet another opportunity to put UNC away. And while the Panthers were unable to find the end zone, Sauls nailed another field goal to stretch the lead to 10 points late in the fourth quarter. And a Louis sack on fourth down, the first of the game, sealed a huge win.

Pitt returns home next weekend to host Cal for its second ACC clash. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. at Acrisure Stadium, and the television broadcast will be announced early next week.