Pitt battles Syracuse in the team's regular season finale. The Panthers are looking for their first 10-win regular season since 1981. The Orange are looking to gain bowl eligibility with a 5-6 record.
FIRST QUARTER
Syracuse 7, Pitt 0 7:35
SU — Courtney Jackson 12 pass from Garrett Shrader
Pitt won the toss and deferred to the second half. Syracuse marched down field effectively with a 14-play 75-yard drive. Along the way the Orange picked up two of its three third-down conversion attempts, along with a crucial fourth down pickup on a Shrader pass. He connected with Monroeville native Courtney Jackson for a 12-yard score to cap off the drive. Shrader went 6-of-6 for 59 yards on the drive, while the vaunted Orange rushing attack totaled 16 yards on eight carries.
SECOND QUARTER
Pitt 7, Syracuse 7 7:25
UP — Rodney Hammond 15-yard pass from Kenny Pickett
Pitt finally settled down on offense after a difficult first three series. The Panthers covered 75-yards on 11 plays. It was a heavy dose of freshman tailback Rodney Hammond, as he rushed six times for 19 yards. Hammond also caught his first career touchdown pass on a 15-yard dump-off from Kenny Pickett. That throw was Pickett's 37th touchdown of the season, which ties him with Dan Marino and Rod Rutherford for most in a single season by a Pitt quarterback.
Pitt 14, Syracuse 7 5:06
UP — Jordan Addison 25 pass from Pickett
Pitt started with some good field position, as Sir'Vocea Dennis recovered a fumble near midfield. Pitt QB Kenny Pickett connected with Addison three times on the drive, the final being a 25-yard touchdown on 3rd and 1. Pickett now has 38 touchdown passes this season, a single season record for a Pitt quarterback. That was Addison 16th touchdown grab of the season. He has six receptions so far in the game.
THIRD QUARTER
Pitt 21, Syracuse 7 10:32
UP — Gavin Bartholomew 4 pass from Pickett
Pitt got the ball after halftime, and quickly marched down the field for a 9-play 65-yard drive. A Vincent Davis 22-yard run set the Panthers up deep in Syracuse territory. A few players later on a 3rd and 5, Syracuse had apparently sacked Pickett, but it was negated due to a costly facemask penalty giving the Panthers new life. Two plays later, Pickett found Bartholomew for a quick 4-yard touchdown, his third of the game, to extend PItt's lead to two scores. Pickett now has 39 touchdowns on the season, and the freshman tight end Bartholomew grabbed his fourth TD catch of his young career.
Pitt 28, Syracuse 7 4:45
UP — Addison 5 pass from Pickett
Pitt has seemingly found its stride on the offensive side of the ball. The Panthers once again, methodically yet convincingly cared up the Syracuse defense for a 9-play 73-yard drive to make it a three score game in the third quarter. The drive got going thanks to a 25-yard pass from Pickett to Bartholomew for a 25-yard gain on third down. Tre Tipton then added a catch, before three straight connections between Addison and Pickett, the final going for a 5-yard touchdown. Pickett now has 40 touchdown passes, and Addison has caught 17 of them. Addison has 10 catches for 79-yards and two touchdowns on the day.
Pitt 28, Syracuse 14 2:03
SU — Jackson 15 pass from Shrader
After six punts, a fumble, and kneel down to end the half on Syracuse's last eight possessions, the Orange finally woke up on this drive. Syracuse marched 79 yards on 7 plays to score with a Courtney Jackson touchdown reception from Shrader, the same combination that scored on their first possession. The Pitt defense has been pretty dominant today, but the Orange got some big plays that drive as Narduzzi and company started to substitute a little bit.
Pitt 31, Syracuse 14 6:20
UP — Sam Scarton 26-yard field goal
Pitt only ran six plays that netted 16 yards on this possessions, but the Panthers managed to take 3:53 off the clock. The Panthers stuck to the ground game and eventually finished off the drive with a Scarton field goal. Pitt has a three score game with a little over six minutes remaining.
