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Down went Clemson, now it was down went Miami, and for the second-straight season Pittsburgh stunned the 2nd ranked team, this time behind freshman quarterback Kenny Pickett
Finishing at 5-7 with no bowl game, the Panthers took it out on the stunned Canes, 24-14, at Heinz Field
By ARNIE LESHIN, Santa Fe Today
At least Pittsburgh had something to play for even if its fans called it its “Super Bowl,” but although there’s no such event in college football, when your team is 4-7, with no bowl games to play, that’s what the signs around Heinz Field displayed.
And for the second year in a row, the Panthers responded. Last time it was a 43-42 win 2nd ranked Clemson, Friday, it was 24-14 over visiting, previously undefeated 2nd ranked Miami.
The Tigers did happen to make their way into the playoffs and even defeated Alabama for the national championship, now they play Miami Saturday for the ACC title, with the loser having a pair of losses and no doubt out of the Final Four.
As for Pitt, it was actually the third time it turned back the No. 2 ranked team, for back in 1975 it did the same to West Virginia.
Just goes to prove you can’t sell the Panthers short, not with a grid alumni of Pop Warner, Marshall Goldberg, Mike Ditka, Dan Marino, Curtis Martin, Mark May, Larry Fitzgerald, and Darrelle Revis. They have won nine national championships, eight from 1915 to 1937, and the last one in 1976.
So it has a proud tradition. It is the school’s most popular sports program, and its home field had close to a capacity turnout. And again the upset-minded Panthers delivered.
Reserve the kudos for freshman quarterback Kenny Pickett. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Pickett from New Jersey, was making his first starts and you’d never know it. He engineered the offense like he’d been in charge all season, and, who knows, if he had, Pittsburgh might been playing its final game with a better record and even a shot at a bowl game.
His day’s work was not expected, but he just went about his business and passed for 193 yards while running for a pair of touchdowns. In all, the Panthers accumulated 345 total yards. He was the first freshman to start a game for Pitt since Pat Bostick in 2007.
The Panthers led 7-0, the Canes cut it to 7-3, and Pitt upped the margin to 14-7 when Pickett faked a handoff to junior Darrin Hill and ran 8 yards into the end zone. Miami kicked another field goal and it was down 14-10 at halftime.
On the sidelines, the Canes were trying to figure out how to solve this Pitt problem. Their starting quarterback, junior Malik Rosier, was having a disappointing time after previously leading his team back in the final quarter to nip FSU, 24-20, Georgia Tech 25-24, Syracuse 27-19, and North Carolina 24-19. And last week they had to rally to turn back visiting Virginia.
Miami even replaced Rosier with 6-5 freshman Evan Shierets late in the third quarter, but after four dismals plays that forced a punt, back came Rosier on the next possession. He tried to rally his team again, but it became more difficult after Pickett fooled the Canes’ defense on a 4th and 6 at the Miami 10, instead of settling for the field goal, he faked a pass, scampered to his left and sped untouched into the end zone.
After the PAT it was now 24-7 with 8:45 to go. But Rosier gave it a try, taking his team 83 yards in seven plays and finishing it with a third down run to the outside and a TD. The point-after made it 24-14 and it was the last tally Pitt allowed as its defense continued its aggressiveness and Pickett his cool, calm and composure.
And of course the Panther faithful could call it their “Super Bowl,” to them that’s what it was.
