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Pitt blows out Wake Forest to claim 2021 ACC championship

CHARLOTTE — Pitt and Wake Forest are ready to take the field in the ACC Championship. Wake Forest won the toss and deferred, and Pitt will start with the ball on offense.

FIRST QUARTER

Pitt 7, Wake Forest 0 13:42

UP — Kenny Pickett 58 run

Kenny Pickett has done most of his damage through the air this season, but Pitt's Heisman hopeful quarterback showed off the wheels on the fifth play of the game. On a third and five, Pickett darted up the middle on a scramble and looked like he was ready to slide, but he opted to keep on running right into the end zone.

Pitt 7, Wake Forest 7 10:48

WF — AT Perry 5 pass from Sam Hartman

Wake Forest responded quickly to Pitt's early score. The Demon Deacons marched 75 yards on 10 plays for a score. Pitt helped Wake Forest out with a pair of personal foul penalties along the way. Sam Hartman calmly found AT Perry in the back of the end zone for the score.

Pitt 14, Wake Forest 7 9:37

UP — Rodney Hammond 22 pass from Pickett

Pitt moved quickly and efficiently on its second possession of the game. Lucas Krull grabbed an 18-yard pass, Jared Wayne had a 35-yard catch-and-run, and eventually Pickett found Rodney Hammond in the flat and he walked in untouched for a 22-yard touchdown. It was Hammond's second receiving touchdown of the season after catching one last week in Syracuse. That was also Pickett's 80th career touchdown, the most in school history breaking Dan Marino's long-standing mark of 79 with him in the stadium.

Pitt 14, Wake Forest 14

WF — Hartman 11 run

It is shaping up to be the offensive battle everyone expected. After Pitt took the lead, Wake Forest responded once again with a lengthy drive. The Deacs went 12 plays on 75 yards, and picked up a huge 3rd and ten with a Hartman to Perry connection. Hartman finished off the drive with his 11th rushing touchdown of the season.

Wake Forest 21, Pitt 14

WF — Taylor Morin 26 pass from Hartman

After a missed field goal attempt by Pitt's Sam Scarton, the Wake Forest offense only needed four plays to cover 69 yards. The Wake drive was aided by a pass interference penalty against Erick Hallett. Hartman found Morin in the back of the end zone and he made a nice one on one catch over MJ Devonshire to give the Deacs the lead.

SECOND QUARTER

Pitt 21, Wake Forest 21

UP — Jared Wayne 5 pass from Pickett

After a big punt return by Jordan Addison, Pitt scored on a quick 6-play drive. Jared Wayne got it going with a a double pass as the Pitt receiver found tight end Lucas Krull for a 20-yard gain. Wayne later caught a touchdown from Pickett to cap off the drive in the red zone. It was the 42nd touchdown pass of Pickett's season, which is a new ACC single season record.

Pitt 24, Wake Forest 21 0:00

UP — Sam Scarton 41-yard field goal

After a sizzling start from the Wake Forest offense, the Pitt defense has found a bit of a groove. The Deacs turned the ball over and punted on the final four possessions of the half. Pitt's final stop of the half came on a Sir'Vocea Dennis sack on third down and Pitt got the ball with :55 seconds remaining, though Pitt could have given itself more time had they called a timeout. Pitt then opted to save the timeouts for its offense, but did not seem to be in a hurry on its final drive of the half. Pitt ran out of time for a touchdown and had to settle for three points, but will take a lead at the break in the ACC Championship game.

THIRD QUARTER

Pitt 31, Wake Forest 21 0:47

UP — Izzy Abanikanda 12 run

The Pitt defense has been carrying the weight in the third quarter, and the offense finally caught up. Erick Hallett intercepted Hartman near midfield, and Pitt promptly scored in four plays. Jordan Addison made a spectacular sideline catch, and Izzy Abanikanda finished it off with a 19-yard jaunt down the sideline a play later. Pitt is up ten with under a minute to go in the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Pitt 38, Wake Forest 21 11:57

UP — Izzy Abanikanda 1 run

AJ Woods picked off a Hartman pass, the third turnover for the star Wake Forest quarterback, and returned it 73 yards to the Pitt 3-yard line. Pitt's Izzy Abanikanda powered through for a touchdown on 3rd and goal to give Pitt a three score lead. The Panthers are getting closer to a championship.

Pitt 45, Wake Forest 21 11:42

UP — Erick Hallett 19 interception return

On the first play of the ensuing Wake Forest drive, Erick Hallett picked off a Hartman pass and took it to the house. It was Hallett's second interception of the game, and the fourth overall for the Pitt team. The Pitt sideline can sense a championship.

Wake Forest's offense couldn't produce anything in the final 11 minutes of the game, as Pitt's defense continued to dominate. As cheers of "Let's go Pitt" rang out at Bank of America Stadium, the clock went to zero and the Panthers were crowned 2021 ACC champions.

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