Pitt took over and ran out the clock from there.
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ESPN’s “Team Efficiency” rankings after week one are out.
But, in the end, this game was more important to Pitt.
Pitt, favored by four and hosting the first of four alternating annual games, beat Penn State 42-39.
FCS Charleston Southern (1-2) was without 14 players – 10 starters – serving one-game suspensions for violating NCAA rules.
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley was answering post-game questions in a Heinz Field tunnel when a passer-by distracted him by shouting “Hail to Pitt!”.
“His head was split open, and there was blood all over his jersey”, Donchez said.
As great as the rushing attack was, it made the passing game look paltry in comparison.
Yet, despite gashing Penn State’s defense for 341 rushing yards, it was barely enough to outlast the Nittany Lions in a game that threatened to turn into a blowout after Pitt took a three-touchdown lead, then became a desperate struggle at the end. The buildup is over; game day is knocking on the door. Pitt chancellor Patrick Gallagher and Penn State president Eric Barron issued a joint statement encouraging what could be a record crowd at Heinz Field to “make wise choices”. Penn State assistant Terry Smith, a former Nittany Lions player and Pittsburgh native, said on Thursday that it wasn’t a rivalry. “Pitt is proud to have participated in the “It’s On Us” campaign since its inception, having gathered more than 5000 pledges from individuals committed to joining in this effort”. As a Pittsburgh native who attended games there as a kid, he even appreciated the climb up “Cardiac Hill” to the stadium. “It was exciting. It was a thrill”.
A strong Pittsburgh running game had the Penn State defense on its heels the entire game.
In fact that’s what happened today, a game story almost complete, a few details here or there.
Pitt fan Anthony Teti, 61, of McKeesport said the scandal, which resulted in Sandusky’s conviction on 45 counts, will always be a part of the rivalry. “The first year was definitely an eye opener, but it was nice when he got here – at Chambersburg, with his size, he was just an anomaly”. The expectations for them were really high.
Pennsylvanians can take the pledge to end sexual assault at governor.pa.gov/its-on-us/.
“That is unacceptable”, Penn State safety Malik Golden said. It’s Narduzzi who’s the chump, because he spent all week obsessing over disrespect and semantics instead of trying to win a football game.
“We could have quit, could have gave up, but we kept fighting and fighting and fighting”, Barkley said. A win over rival Penn State would be a notch in the belt for Pitt fans, faithful and alumni, a reason to believe again. Cefalo fielded it, then flipped to Guman, who went 52 yards for the score.
After the game, Paterno called the victory perhaps his “sweetest” against Pitt. Happy Valley, better known as State College, is dominated, and generally in existence only because of Penn State University. “So we’ve spent a lot of time looking at the fly sweep, how we’re going to defend the fly sweep”.
TOWSON 35, SAINT FRANCIS 28: Christian Summers made a diving catch into the end zone with under five minutes to play as Towson capped a second-half rally. James Conner led Pitt with 117 yards and a touchdown as the offensive line improved exponentially from last week’s performance against Villanova. Grant resurrected a stunned Rutgers (1-1) from a 14-0 first-quarter deficit with an 84-yard kickoff return, and he was in the center of a 21-point third quarter with touchdown runs of 58 and 21 yards.
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After 16 years, this game is proof that the rivalry between Pitt and Penn State is still very special, and they’ll play three more games between now and 2019. Pittsburgh was favored to win, but it was a rivalry game and we all know weird things happen in rivalry games.
