Published Oct 1, 2022
Pitt falls to Georgia Tech in a stunner
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Chris Peak  •  Pitt Sports News
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No. 24 Pitt is hosting Georgia Tech at Acrisure Stadium tonight. Here’s the latest from the game.

FIRST QUARTER Georgia Tech won the coin toss and opted to take the first possession of the game. It seemed like that would be a short possession when Pitt’s defense forced incomplete passes on Jeff Sims’ first two throws, but Sims scrambled for a first down on third-and-10 to move the chains and start the Yellow Jackets’ march.

Sims then converted a third-and-1 from the 44 with a two-yard dive before he made the biggest play of the dive, rolling to his right to throw down the sideline to E.J. Jenkins, who made a 33-yard catch against Marquis Williams. The Panthers locked down after that, but Georgia Tech was deep enough in Pitt territory for a field goal, and kicker Gavin Stewart made the 33-yard attempt.
Georgia Tech 3, Pitt 0 - 11:14, 1st quarter

Pitt’s first possession didn’t go quite as well, as Kedon Slovis threw three passes and all three fell incomplete. The Panthers’ defense responded by posting a three-and-out of its own, but the offensive woes continued. Israel Abanikanda’s first carry of the game went for just two yards before a pass to combo lineman/tight end Ryan Jacoby gained just three yards. Slovis threw for Konata Mumpfield on third-and-5, but the pass fell incomplete when Mumpfield was hit hard by a GT defender, leading to a second Pitt punt.

The struggles continued after that, with Pitt forcing another three-and-out and responding with another three-and-out of its own as neither team really could get anything going. And the Yellow Jackets were about to continue the streak of three-and-outs before a roughing penalty on their punt extended the series, leaving Georgia Tech near midfield as the first quarter ended.

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SECOND QUARTER
Pitt’s defense stopped Georgia Tech on third-and-15 to open the second quarter and finally showed signs of life offensively on the next possession. After Abanikanda lost his shoe on a first-down carry, Vincent Davis came in and ran well, picking up 27 yards on four consecutive runs.

But the issues come back, first with a false start and then a timeout that was necessary to avoid a delay of game penalty. Slovis threw incomplete on third-and-9 to lead to yet another punt.

Pitt’s defense kept the pressure on Sims during the next possession, as Bangally Kamara sacked the GT quarterback on third-and-7 to force a punt and give the Panthers possession at their own 38.

The offense went back to the running game with Abanikanda, and the junior back got rolling. He carried Pitt across midfield and inside the Georgia Tech 40, but after three runs failed to get a first down, Ben Sauls came out for a field goal from the 33. Before the snap on the 51-yard attempt, though, Pat Narduzzi called timeout and opted to send his offense back on the field for the fourth-and-four attempt. Slovis’ pass was rushed and off-target, and Georgia Tech took the ball back.

This time, the Yellow Jackets hit a big play, as Sims ran a quarterback keeper on first down, broke through and got down the right sideline for a 42-yard pickup. Pitt’s defense stuffed Georgia Tech after that, but Stewart connected from 33 yards to extend the Jackets’ lead.
GEORGIA TECH 6, PITT 0 - 2:04, 2nd quarter

Pitt’s offense finally got into a groove after the field goal when Davis ran the Panthers to a first down, Slovis hit Mumpfield for another first down and a roughing penalty moved the ball inside the Georgia Tech 30. From there, Slovis found Gavin Bartholomew wide open, and the sophomore tight end found his way into the end zone.
PITT 7, GEORGIA TECH 6 - 1:46, 2nd quarter

Pitt’s defense forced one more three-and-out for Georgia Tech’s fifth punt of the game, and the Panthers took a one-point lead into the locker room.

PITT 7, GEORGIA TECH 6 - Halftime

THIRD QUARTER
Pitt got the ball to open the second half and marched across midfield, largely on the strength of Davis running the ball and a nice play by Mumpfield on a swing pass from Slovis. But when Davis was tackled on a third-and-5 from the GT 36, he fumbled and the Yellow Jackets recovered. The return went to the Pitt 17, and while the defense stepped up to make a big stop, Georgia Tech still retook the lead on a 40-yard field goal.
GEORGIA TECH 9, PITT 7 - 8:36, 3rd quarter

The rest of the third quarter brought more ineptitude. Pitt drove across midfield but a third-and-5 pass to Jaden Bradley fell incomplete inside the GT 40. Pitt’s defense forced the Yellow Jackets to punt, but when the Panthers neared the 50 on the next possession, Slovis’ pass to Karter Johnson was intercepted, giving the Yellow Jackets the ball back as the third quarter came to an end.

FOURTH QUARTER
When the final frame began, Georgia Tech had the ball facing a third-and-3 at the Pitt 42, but the Panthers gave the Yellow Jackets yardage on that play with a defensive holding penalty. Then, on third-and-11 from the Pitt 33, GT running back Hassan Hall ran into the pile and then pushed it forward for 13 yards. The Panthers didn’t give up another first down, but Stewart kicked his fourth field goal to extend the lead to five.
GEORGIA TECH 12, PITT 7 - 2:41, 4th quarter

Pitt’s offense took the ball looking to answer, but things went wrong from the start when Davis fumbled for the second time in the game. Georgia Tech recovered, and four plays later, Sims threw to E.J. Jenkins for a 21-yard touchdown
GEORGIA TECH 19, PITT 7 - 10:30, 4th quarter

The next drive wasn’t any better for Pitt, as an intentional grounding penalty and a tipped pass that was “caught” by Marcus Minor led to an untenable third-and-29 from the Pitt 29. Georgia Tech nearly scored another touchdown, but was stuffed at the 1-yard line on a fourth-down attempt.

The Panthers took over from that spot, and after several false start penalties, they started to march. Slovis completed 6-of-9 for 99 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown pass to Bradley.
GEORGIA TECH 19, PITT 14 - 1:57, 4th quarter

Somehow, things kept getting worse for Pitt. On the first play of Georgia Tech’s next drive, Hassan Hall pushed his way through for a 63-yard run. Two plays after that, Sims kept the ball and ran for a touchdown.
GEORGIA TECH 26, PITT 14 - 1:25, 4th quarter

Pitt managed one more score on the next drive when Slovis completed 4-of-6 for 68 yards and a second touchdown pass to Bradley, but the Panthers couldn’t recover the onside kick, and the Yellow Jackets ran out the clock.
GEORGIA TECH 26, PITT 21 - Final