PITTSBURGH — Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi “absolutely” did not receive an explanation from the officials on the fourth down re-do late in a loss to Virginia.
Pitt appeared to have stuffed Virginia backup quarterback Grady Brosterhous on a fourth-and-1 midway through the fourth quarter. The Pitt defense celebrated, thinking they got the ball back to the offense with a chance to go down the field and take the lead.
Until the officials stepped in and said the play had to be replayed since “the officials weren’t in position.” Virginia got a second chance and converted, moving the chains.
Virginia burned more time off the clock, connected on a 32-yard field goal with 2:06 left in the game and ultimately won the game.
Pitt didn’t do enough to earn the win against Virginia, but the officiating played a role in the 24-19 loss. And Narduzzi was left in the dark.
“To be honest, I have no idea,” Narduzzi said Saturday night after the game. “It’s a great question. I’m sure (the ACC) will answer that for us on Monday or Tuesday. But it’s our job to get lined up and get in position. And it’s their job to get lined up and get in position as well. We had a stop on fourth-and-1. And no explanation.”
According to NCAA rules, Virginia should have been penalized five yards for snapping the ball before ready for play.
Pitt still had a chance to drive 75 yards to win the game with a touchdown, after the Cavs’ field goal turned a two-point lead into a five-point lead, but Nate Yarnell threw an interception on second-and-10 at the Virginia 47 with 1:42 on the clock to ice the Cavaliers’ win.
Pitt was called for 11 penalties for 75 yards. It was a poorly played game by the Panthers, one plagued by injuries and miscues, but the officials ultimately inserted themselves into the outcome of the game.
And Pat Narduzzi received no explanation on a phantom holding call on Ryan Baer earlier in the quarter that negated a successful two-point conversion, which would have tied the game at 21.
“No, no explanation,” Narduzzi said. “Not good. He did a technique we called trap his arm, and he knocked his arm down. That’s all it was. The guy wasn’t even close to the quarterback. You talk about non-factors. But players play, coaches coach and officials officiate.”
Our OL is worse than a lot of D2 teams. Not only are they slow and missing blocks, they have pre-snap penalties and holding on almost every play.
The refs were very bias in this game, and they need to be removed from refereeing ever again.
H2P!!!
Agreed, the refs should have penalized Virginia for the early snap. Then no first down for Virginia and no 3 point field goal.
…and more than double amount of time on the clock. Super messed up!!