The Pitt Panthers are off to a 3-0 start, and will look to become 4-0 for the first time since 2000. Standing in their way is the Youngstown State Penguins. Follow along for live updates from Acrisure Stadium
FIRST QUARTER
Pitt 7, Younstown State 0 11:27
UP — Poppi Williams 5-yard pass from Eli Holstein (Ben Sauls kick)
Pitt won the coin toss and elected to receive and quickly marched down the field with little resistance from the Youngstown State defense. The Panthers appear to be without offensive starters Ryan Jacoby and star tailback Desmond Reid today, as Derrick Davis made his first career start at running back. The big gainer on this possession was a QB keeper from Eli Holstein, who took off for 32 yards. Eventually he found Poppi Williams for an easy pass in the flat. It was the tenth touchdown of the season for Holstein, and third receiving score for Williams.
Pitt 14, Youngstown State 0 8:30
UP — Daniel Carter 24-yard run (Sauls kick)
Youngstown State's first possession was a disaster. It started with a false start, then an 18-yard loss on a bad snap, which backed them up against their own goal line. Following the punt, Pitt scored in two plays. The drive started with an 18-yard catch by Konata Mumpfield, before Daniel Carter ripped off a career-high 24-yard run.
Pitt 21, Youngstown State 0
UP — Holstein 2 run (Sauls kick)
Youngstown State's second possession was not much better than the first. The Penguins had another three-and-out, which gave Pitt decent field position after a punt. Once again, Pitt didn't need much time. Derrick Davis ripped off a 22-yard run, before Holstein found Poppi Williams for a nice 35-yard gain down the sideline. Holstein then kept it himself for the score. The freshman quarterback is up to 39 rushing yards on the day.
SECOND QUARTER
Pitt 21, Youngstown State 3 12:33
YSU — Andrew Lastovka 46-yard field goal
Youngstown State finally settled in on its third possession. The Penguins marched down the field and picked up their first three first downs of the game, but the drive sort of sputtered just inside the 40-yard line of Pitt. Youngstown State had to settle for three, but the Penguins have a pretty talented kicker in sophomore Andrew Lastovka, who is now 21-of-24 in his career on field goal attempts.
Pitt 28, Youngstown State 3 10:34
UP — Kenny Johnson 10-yard pass from Holstein (Sauls kick)
Pitt answered the Youngstown State field goal basically two minutes later in game clock. The Panthers traveled 74 yards in five plays. The drive was kickstarted by a 31-yard catch from Jake Overman, and aided by a hands-to-the-face penalty by Youngstown State. Later, Holstein found Kenny Johnson in the corner of the end zone. It marked the second receiving touchdown for Johnson on the year. Pitt is out-gaining Youngstown State 245-38.
Pitt 35, Youngstown State 3 8:08
UP — Carter 43-yard run
After an impressive sideline interception for Kyle Louis, Pitt needed only two plays to score. after an incompletion on first down, Daniel Carter took it to the house for a 43-yard score, eclipsing his career-high run he set in the first quarter. This one is already getting ugly.
Pitt 35, Youngstown State 10 1:52
YSU — Cyrus Traugh 25-yard pass from Beau Brungard (Lastovka kick)
For the first time all game, Youngstown State put together a sustained drive. The Penguins marched 75 yards in 11 plays, and eventually scored on a 25-yard short pass in the flat from Beau Brungard to Cyrus Traugh. It was a lengthy drive for Youngstown State, as it held the ball for over six minutes, which seemed by design to slow down the Pitt offense.
Pitt 42, Youngstown State 10 1:35
UP — Censere Lee 82-yard pass from Holstein (Sauls kick)
There is a reason Youngstown State is trying to keep the ball away from Pitt. After that lengthy scoring drive from the Penguins, Pitt scored in one play, an 82-yard bomb from Holstein to Censere Lee. It was the longest pass of Holstein's career and the longest throw for Pitt since Kenny Pickett connected with Maurice Ffrench for a 96-yard touchdown back in the Quick Lane Bowl in 2019.
THIRD QUARTER
Pitt 42, Youngstown State 17 9:23
YSU — Cyrus Traugh 44-yard play from Brungard (Lastovka kick)
Youngstown State received the opening kickoff of the second half, and had a bit of a drive going, before Kyle Louis jarred the ball loose. It marked Louis' third forced turnover in the past two games. But once Pitt got the ball back, Holstein held onto the ball a little too long and took a 17-yard loss on a sack, which forced to punt. On YSU's second possession, the Penguins got loose for a 44-yard score. Pitt seemed to be caught off-guard by a wheel route and allowed a wide open touchdown.
Pitt 45, Youngstown State 17 6:52
UP — Sauls 49-yard field goal
Pitt used a couple of big Daniel Carter runs and a 15-yard penalty on Youngstown State to drive down the field, but the drive sputtered. Fortunatley for the Panthers, they have one of the best kickers in the country. Sauls made his seventh field goal attempt in as many tries to pad the Panthers lead.
Pitt 52, Youngstown State 17 1:32
UP — Holstein 2-yard run (Sauls kick)
Eli Holstein has displayed his mobility at times this season, but it was the story of this drive. The talented freshman broke off an impressive 49-yards rush where he used a pump fake, broke a tackle, and nearly scores. Of course, he then plowed in from two yards out to get the score. Holstein has 93 yards and two touchdowns on the ground so far today, both career highs.
FOURTH QUARTER
Pitt 59, Youngstown State 17 10:30
UP — Daniel Carter 13-yard pass from Nate Yarnell (Sauls kick)
Have a day, Daniel Carter. He went over the 100-yard rushing mark the first time of his career on this drive. Later on, he caught a 13-yard score. Pitt turned to backup quarterback Nate Yarnell to relieve Eli Holstein this possession. Yarnell went 5-of-7 for 70 yards.
Pitt 66, Youngstown State 17 8:36
UP — Tamarion Crumpley 22-yard interception return
Youngstown State decided to pull starting quarterback Beau Brungard and give Max Blanc, a Pittsburgh native, a chance. On his third pass attempt, Pitt reserve cornerback Tamarion Crumpley picked off the pass and housed it. The Panthers are over 60 points for the first time since 2021, when they scored 77 against New Hampshire.
Pitt 73, Youngstown State 17 3:35
UP — Che Nwabuko 57-yard run (Sam Carpenter kick)
Pitt's domination continues with the backups on the field. Fourth string running back Che Nwabuko, reportedly the fastest player on the team, got loose for a 57-yard run, the first touchdown of his career.
