Pitt is hosting Rhode Island at Acrisure Stadium today, and here’s the latest from the game.

FIRST QUARTER
Pitt won the coin toss and opted to defer, giving Rhode Island the ball first to open the game, and the Panthers defense went to work. The Rams gained 12 yards on two plays, but those were offset by a pair of false start penalties and Rhode Island had to punt.

That was all it took for Pitt to score, as M.J. Devonshire took the punt at the 12, found the sideline and ran 82 yards for a touchdown. It was the Panthers’ first punt return touchdown that didn’t come as a result of a block since 2018, and the home team took an early lead.
Pitt 7, Rhode Island 0 - 12:18, 1st quarter

Pitt’s defense forced another three-and-out - with a third false start on Rhode Island - but the debut of the Panthers’ offense on the day wasn’t much more successful, as a false start turned second-and-6 into second-and-11, and the offense ended up with a punt of its own.

Another three-and-out - this time from Pitt’s second-team defense - led to another Rhode Island punt, and this time the Panthers cashed in. After C’Bo Flemister picked up seven yards on first down, Israel Abanikanda took a handoff to the left side, found a hole and was gone for 67 yards.
Pitt 14, Rhode Island 0 - 6:03, 1st quarter

Rhode Island showed signs of life on the next drive. After the Rams picked up a first down for the first time on a third-and-10 pass, running back Marques DeShields got through Pitt’s defensive line for a 63-yard touchdown run.
Pitt 14, Rhode Island 7 - 5:09, 1st quarter

Pitt took the ball back after Rhode Island’s touchdown and went to work with some specific goals in mind, as the Panthers used a lot of tempo and screen passes to work through the final five minutes of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER
With first down at the Rhode Island 26, Pitt went into full-on running mode, handing the ball off on five consecutive plays before Abanikanda cashed in from the 12 for his second touchdown of the game. The run also put the junior back over 100 yards on the day - his third consecutive 100-yard rushing performance.
Pitt 21, Rhode Island 7 - 12:28, 2nd quarter

The defense pitched another three-and-out after the touchdown, and Pitt’s proceeded to rattle off another long drive. With screens and handoffs, the Panthers marched 72 yards to the Rhode Island 13, but Kedon Slovis threw behind Bub Means on third-and-7 from that spot, and Pitt had to settle for a 31-yard field goal from Ben Sauls. The kick was good, and the Panthers’ lead was extended to three touchdowns.
Pitt 24, Rhode Island 7 - 3:39, 2nd quarter

Rhode Island’s offense broke through for a few more big plays on the next drive, the most notable of which was a 45-yard pass from Kasim Hill to Paul Woods for a 45-yard gain that converted third-and-9 from the Rhode Island 26. Pitt’s defense helped the cause after that, with a facemask penalty on Judson Tallandier and a pass interference on A.J. Woods putting the Rams at the Pitt 2. Two plays later, DeShields ran in from a yard out for Rhode Island’s second touchdown.
Pitt 24, Rhode Island 14 - 0:50, 2nd quarter

Pitt ran three plays before halftime, and the Panthers took their 10-point lead into the locker room.
Pitt 24, Rhode Island 14 - Halftime

THIRD QUARTER
Pitt got the ball to open the second half, and the Panthers used a mix of running and check-down passes to go down the field. Daniel Carter converted a pair of third-and-short situations before Abanikanda took a handoff on second-and-6 from the 24 and got through the line for his third rushing touchdown of the game.
Pitt 31, Rhode Island 14 - 9:18, 3rd quarter

Rhode Island’s next drive was the longest of the game, as the Rams converted three third downs and one fourth down to march inside the Pitt 10, but a Calijah Kancey sack on third-and-6 from the 9 pushed the visitors back to the 17, where they had to settle for a 34-yard field goal.
Pitt 31, Rhode Island 17 - 0:56, 3rd quarter

FOURTH QUARTER
Pitt’s drive after the touchdown didn’t get off to a good start when Gabe Houy, playing for the first game this season, was called for holding on first down. But the Panthers rebounded, largely on the strength of the running game that somehow still featured Abanikanda. The junior back ran for 42 yards in the drive, including a 13-yard scoring run that put Pitt back ahead by three scores.
Pitt 38, Rhode Island 17 - 8:32, 4th quarter

Pitt’s defense forced a three-and-out on Rhode Island’s next drive, and while the Panthers got well across the 50 with a 41-yard catch-and-run by Karter Johnson, the possession stalled at the Rhode Island 4 when Carter was stuffed on fourth-and-1.

The Rams took the ball back at the 4 and marched against Pitt’s second-team defense (and third and fourth-team, at some positions). The Rams didn’t face a third down until they got to the Pitt 15, and while that play failed, they did convert a fourth-and-10 for a touchdown.
Pitt 38, Rhode Island 24 - 1:21, 4th quarter

Rhode Island attempted an onside kick after the touchdown, but Means recovered it and ran to the Rams 18. From there, Vincent Davis took a handoff and found his way to the end zone for another score.
Pitt 45, Rhode Island 24 - 1:11, 4th quarter

After Ben Sauls was Injured on the extra point, Pitt backup kicker Caleb Junko came out to attempt an onside kick, and Junko himself recovered It to give the Panthers possession. From there, they kneeled to run out the clock.

Pitt 45, Rhode Island 24 - Final