DALLAS — The No. 18 Pitt Panthers are in Dallas to take on No. 20 SMU in a primetime showdown with huge ACC implications on the line. Follow along for live updates from Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
FIRST QUARTER
SMU 7, Pitt 0 12:19
SMU — LJ Johnson 2-yard run (Collin Rogers kick)
Pitt won the coin toss in Dallas, and elected to receive, bucking a recent trend for taking the ball first. The Panthers allowed a 75-yard drive on seven plays, but the backbreaker was a 43-yard gain to Keyshawn Smith. The Pitt defender did not fully take him to the turf, and he sprung an OK gain into a big one, which ultimately set up the score. It was a quick start for SMU. The Pitt defense will need to settle in, but the big play was a missed tackle, not missed execution at least.
SMU 7, Pitt 3 5:55
UP — Ben Sauls 44-yard kick
Ben Sauls maintained his perfect season, by booting a 44-yarder to cut into the SMU lead. The Panthers have moved the ball better tonight than in recent games with four first downs already after only achieving 13 last week against Syracuse. Still, Pitt is 0-for-2 on third down conversions, which have cut down both possessions thus far. Eli Holstein is 5-of-8 for 39 yards early on, but has still missed on some chances.
SECOND QUARTER
SMU 14, Pitt 3 14:15
SMU — Roderick Daniels 3-yard run (Rogers kick)
SMU, once again, kept a drive going by a missed tackle by a Pitt cornerback. Facing a third and 10 near midfield, the Mustangs picked up a 22-yard gain when it appeared Tamon Lynum had Matthew Hibner on the ground, but he broke loose to keep the drive going. Eventually, Roderick Daniels broke into the endzone on an acrobatic run to give SMU a two-score lead early in the game. The Panthers' defense needs to get the tackling down pat, but it appears they have done a nice job against the run and has gotten in the face of quarterback Kevin Jennings a few times. The offense, obviously, has to get it going this drive to keep pace.
SMU 21, Pitt 3 10:43
SMU — Brashard Smith 71-yard run (Rogers kick)
Well, it's getting ugly. After Pitt missed on its third third down conversion of the game, Ben Sauls missed his first field goal attempt of the year. The Mustangs promptly took over and handed the ball to Brashard Smith, who took the first play of the drive 71 yards for a score. The Panthers are down 18 on the road, and do not have many good things to say about their performance thus far.
SMU 28, Pitt 3 1:53
SMU — Brashard Smith 3-yard pass from Kevin Jennings (Rogers kick)
Facing a third and long near midfield, Pitt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein coughed up a costly fumble. The Mustangs once again benefitted from poor tackling from the Pitt cornerbacks as SMU kept another drive going and eventually scored on a touchdown pass from Kevin Jennings to Brashard Smith, who is up to 145 all-purpose yards this half.
SMU 31, Pitt 3 0:00
SMU — Collin Rogers 50-yard field goal
After SMU's Collin Rogers booted a 50-yard field goal just before halftime, he did Pitt's 'Shark' celebration facing the Panthers' bench. It has just been that kind of game for Pitt. Nothing is going right. SMU is out-gaining Pitt 299 to 143. The Panthers are 1-of-7 on third down conversions. It's a tough look for the undefeated Panthers.
THIRD QUARTER
SMU 34, Pitt 3
SMU — Rogers 37-yard field goal
Pitt started the second half with the ball, and promptly went three-and-out. With the ball deep in their own territory, the Panthers called a fake punt, which did not work. SMU started with good field position, but settled for only three points. It hardly matters, however, as the Mustangs are in firm control with a 31-point lead.
SMU 34, Pitt 11 :36
UP — Desmond Reid 1-yard run (Eli Holstein run)
Pitt finally scored a touchdown in this one, only to cut SMU's lead to 23 points. Yea, it's been that kind of game. The Panthers started near midfield, needed a few fourth down conversions, but eventually scored. Desmond Reid plunged in from one yard out, and Holstein added two more points with a run. The epic comeback ain't happening tonight, however.
FOURTH QUARTER
SMU 41, Pitt 11 12:46
SMU — Brashard Smith 18-yard run (Rogers kick)
Pitt had SMU facing a third and nine, but like most of the game, faltered when they needed a stop. The Mustangs picked up 12 yards, then attacked Pitt with a 43-yard deep shot two plays later. Eventually Brashard Smith scored, which was his third score of the night.
SMU 48, Pitt 11 9:56
SMU — Matthew Hibner 80-yard pass from Jennings (Rogers kick)
Holstein threw an interception inside the five-yard line, his second takeaway of the game. The play resulted in a touchback. On the first play of the next possession, SMU then ran that tight end slot pass that Pitt always struggles with and scored an 80-yard touchdown.
SMU 48, Pitt 18 4:01
UP — Kenny Johnson 13-yard pass from Nate Yarnell (Sauls kick)
After SMU punted with its second string team in, Pitt marched quickly for a touchdown with backup Nate Yarnell orchestrating the offense. He found Kenny Johnson for a 13-yard score, his eighth reception of the game.
SMU 48, Pitt 25 :23
UP — Malachi Thomas 1-yard pass Yarnell (Sauls kick)
Pitt punched in another score to make it respectable, but it's still a 23-point loss. Freshman Malachi Thomas scored his first career touchdown.
