Blue Takes Pitt Spring Game with 17-14 Victory Over Gold

PITTSBURGH — Speed was a major talking point throughout the five weeks of spring ball for Pitt. The Panthers added speedsters up and down the skill positions and that quickness was evident in the Pitt Blue-Gold Spring Game on Saturday.

It was highlighted by the first play of the second half when Louisville wide receiver transfer Cataurus Hicks pulled in a quick pass from Mason Heintschel as he then turned on the jets down the middle of the field, evading the entire defense for a long 65-yard touchdown to help lead the Blue Team to a 17-14 win over Gold.

The quarterback play from Heintschel and Julian Dugger, along with running back Ja’Kyrian Turner boosted the Blue Team all day long. Wide receiver Zion Fowler-El also pulled in a touchdown reception from All-American Kyle Louis, who stepped in for a few snaps on offense.

Turnovers were a problem early in spring ball and it didn’t take long for that to turn up again for quarterback Eli Holstein. On his second pass of the day, Holstein released a sidearm throw that was intercepted by cornerback Shadarian Harrison, who was named the most improved defensive player in spring camp Saturday morning.

It was a heavy dose of Turner during the first two series of the game, as expected since he was the only healthy tailback on the Blue squad. He helped give the Blue Team a chip shot 29-yard field goal for Sam Carpenter to make it 3-0.

Following a turnover on downs, Heintschel led a solid drive into the red zone for the Blue Team. He completed three passes before turning it over to the All-American linebacker in Louis.

Stepping in as an impromptu running back, Louis received the toss from Heintschel, sprinted right and then tossed a left-handed 4-yard touchdown pass to Fowler-El.

Kyle with the dime 🎯
Zion with the score 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4zpw0jjLjC

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) April 12, 2025

That would stand as the lone touchdown of the half. David Lynch entered for Gold and put his team in position for points, but a 33-yard field goal attempt was missed by transfer kicker James London to keep it 10-0 at the halftime break.

Heintschel finished the first half completing 6-of-7 passes for 35 yards and he carried that into the second half. On his first pass, he tossed a quick pass to Hicks. The speedster took off down the middle of the field slipping through a handful of converging defender for a 65-yard touchdown.

With another possession to turn his day around, Holstein once again struggled to connect with receivers. On a fourth-and-12, Holstein attempted to push it down field to freshman receiver Cam Sapp, but it was under-thrown and picked off by Harrison for his second interception of the game.

Gold relied on a solid drive by Lynch to get break the shutout as he completed all seven pass attempts, including a big gain to redshirt freshman tight end Truitt Brown followed by an 11-yard pick up by Kenny Johnson. The drive was capped by Justin Cook as he punched in the 2-yard score to make it 17-7 with Blue still in front.

While Gold continued to trail by 10 after another London field goal miss, Holstein finally executed a flawless drive with time ticking away. He went 7-of-7 for 70 yards and he connected this time with Sapp for a 2-yard touchdown. In the end, it was too little too late for the Gold Team.

With the completion of spring camp, Pitt will be off for the next few months before fall camp starts at the end of July. Pitt will open the 2025 campaign against Duquesne on Aug. 30 at Acrisure Stadium.