Two different approaches on game week, to say the least, but what matters is what happens on the field on Saturday.
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Before they even get into conference play, they will have to deal with some high power, up tempo offenses in Penn State, Oklahoma State, and Marshall (North Carolina is sandwiched in between the OK State and Marshall games).
Penn State steadied the ship as the second quarter went along. “But I’ll never forget that”. But a third-down sack by linebacker Quintin Wirginis — the first of his career — prevented the Lions from tying the game up, as Penn State settled for a 38-yard field goal to cut the Pitt advantage to four with 12:04 remaining.
But that wasn’t easy after this one.
“For us to get that close and not pull out a win is really upsetting”, Hamilton said.
It was, of course, hardly all on Hamilton. Still, they let up 39 points and let the Nittany Lions get back into the game.
Pitt celebrates the win in front of the student section.
They surrendered an 84-yard kickoff return to set up what proved to be the winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Touchdowns by Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, the most in a game for the Nittany Lions since Ki-Jana Carter against Michigan State in 1994.
They turned the ball over four times. He snagged the ball with one hand and set up Barkley with his fourth score of the game. This will, however, be Narduzzi’s first chance going up against Penn State since switching offensive coordinators and quarterback.
Quarterbacks: No question, Trace McSorley was the impetus for Penn State’s near-comeback, throwing for 202 yards and a touchdown after halftime.
“Just the fact they’re Penn State (made it a bigger game)”, Pitt receiver Quadree Henderson said, “Coach Narduzzi said they’re arrogant”.
Iowa State is a 15-point underdog heading into the Cy-Hawk Trophy game at Iowa and is coming off a loss to FCS Northern Iowa. He also added a receiving touchdown. Sometimes it ends on the final play, the script completely changing over the span of a few seconds. “I’ve gotta run faster”. The Lions went for the home run two plays later. Everybody needs to be held accountable on that play. But when he tried to run a read option play on the next snap, he kept the ball and again was hit by Price. But until then, the Pitt-Penn State rivalry will have to be settled on the field.
This may be the first time Pitt and Penn State are meeting on the same field since the 2000 season, but that doesn’t mean there is a lack of familiarity between the two programs.
It appeared that Penn State was going to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, as McSorley lofted a ideal deep ball to DaeSean Hamilton with no one in front of him. However, Pitt was able to do whatever they wanted on offense. It set the tone early, turning a flawless Penn State punt into a 99-yard touchdown drive for the game’s first points.
Who happened to be Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett. But now Reese is a Panther, and there’s no going back.
RB James Conner, Pittsburgh: The courageous, tough Panthers bell cow back carried 22 times for 117 yards and a touchdown, leading a bruising Pittsburgh ground attack that accounted for 341 yards.
“It’s Steelers-Browns, it’s Alabama-Auburn, it’s Michigan-Michigan State”, he said.
Early on, though, it appeared the game might not reach such a nerve-inducing point, as the Panthers picked up where they began at the start of the millenium when they pushed around their long-time rivals.
“We talk a lot of smack”, said Mark Guffey, who spent his tailgating time outside of the Partying Panther – a party bus surrounded by Pitt fans.
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But corners Haley, Campbell, Reid and Oruwariye helped limit running plays when they could. The alarming thing was allowing quarterback Trace McSorley to move the chains easily on crucial drives late in the game.
