Pitt bounces back after upset, drills New Hampshire 77-7
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pat Narduzzi shrugged his shoulders and stated the obvious.
''That's what it's supposed to look like,'' the Pittsburgh coach said after watching the Panthers drill New Hampshire 77-7 on Saturday.
Except last week during a stunning home loss to Western Michigan that brought his team's solid start to a crashing halt, it didn't. Given seven days to regroup, Pitt (3-1) wrapped up nonconference play with one of the greatest offensive displays in the program's 117-year history.
Kenny Pickett threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another. Jordan Addison hauled in six passes for 179 yards and three scores and freshman running back Rodney Hammond ran for 100 yards and reached the end zone three times. The Panthers piled up a school-record 707 yards and had little trouble against the overmatched Wildcats (3-1). Pitt's 77 points were the most by the Panthers since an 88-0 win over Westminster in 1926.
''Coming off last week, I think everyone was (ticked) off and wanted to come in and get a win and get a win convincingly like that,'' Pickett said. ''I think (we built) some confidence going into conference play.''
That hasn't been an issue all season for the offense. Pickett already has 15 touchdown passes through four games, two more than he managed all of last season. His 1-yard touchdown plunge on the Panthers' opening drive gave him 17 rushing touchdowns for his career, the most ever by a Pitt quarterback.
Pickett completed 24 of 28 passes and led the Panthers to touchdowns on their eight possessions with him in the game.
''It takes 11 (players),'' Narduzzi said. ''It's not just Kenny all by himself. He's got an offensive line that's protecting him, giving him time to make those throws and he's got guys making catches.''
New Hampshire, ranked 22nd in the Football Championship Subdivision, saw any hopes of the school's first win over a Power Five program in 15 years evaporate after falling behind by four touchdowns in the game's first 14 minutes.
The Wildcats allowed a safety on their opening possession and saw its second end by having Pitt's Damarri Mathis step in front of a pass by Bret Edwards and return it 35 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0 before the game was 5 minutes old.
The scores were emblematic of a bounce-back performance by the Panthers. Pitt gave up 160 yards of offense a week after surrendering 516 to Western Michigan.
''I haven't lost faith in our defense,'' Narduzzi said.
Edwards spent most of the afternoon under heavy duress, completing 9 of 20 for 42 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Carlos Washington Jr. ran for 91 yards for the Wildcats, who received $425,000 to travel to Heinz Field.
HONORING FU
Pitt held a moment of silence before the kickoff for noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Freddy Fu, who died on Friday at age 70 following a bout with melanoma.
Fu, a pioneer in sports medicine who became one of the most renowned surgeons - particularly for high-profile athletes - in the country, served as chair for the school's the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and worked out of the UMPC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Center.
THE TAKEAWAY
New Hampshire: The real season for the Wildcats begins next week. While the program's best start since 2009 came to a halt, New Hampshire
Pitt: No score total could wipe out the defensive meltdown against Western Michigan. However, the Panthers wasted little time dominating an opponent it was expected to dominate.
''One way or another it's a launching pad,'' Narduzzi said. ''Regardless what we did today, it does not matter. It does not matter. We're going to play Georgia Tech down in Atlanta again for the third year in a row, and we've got to be ready to go.''
UP NEXT
New Hampshire: Host FCS power and Colonial Athletic Association rival James Madison next weekend.
Pittsburgh: Pitt has won each of its last three meetings with the Yellow Jackets.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
B. Edwards
17 QB
|
B. Edwards | 9/21 | 42 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Herion
11 QB
|
T. Herion | 1/4 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Washington Jr.
26 RB
|
C. Washington Jr. | 9 | 91 | 0 | 70 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Seide
42 RB
|
I. Seide | 7 | 37 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Post
28 RB
|
J. Post | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Laube
20 RB
|
D. Laube | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Herion
11 QB
|
T. Herion | 1 | -3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Edwards
17 QB
|
B. Edwards | 2 | -26 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
G. Helm
29 WR
|
G. Helm | 3 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Turner
7 WR
|
C. Turner | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Lepkowski
84 TE
|
K. Lepkowski | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Lorden
19 WR
|
N. Lorden | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Coyne
83 WR
|
S. Coyne | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Deese
81 TE
|
A. Deese | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Laube
20 RB
|
D. Laube | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Briscoe III
5 WR
|
C. Briscoe III | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Espanet
80 WR
|
B. Espanet | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Griffin
18 WR
|
B. Griffin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Washington Jr.
26 RB
|
C. Washington Jr. | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
N. Palm
44 DB
|
N. Palm | 7-8 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Shaw
13 LB
|
B. Shaw | 5-5 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Stansbury
11 S
|
N. Stansbury | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Harris
4 DB
|
R. Harris | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Williams
10 LB
|
Z. Williams | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. McCormack-Kuhman
95 DE
|
S. McCormack-Kuhman | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Hoff
45 DB
|
B. Hoff | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Collins Jr.
31 CB
|
J. Collins Jr. | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Gormley
62 DT
|
O. Gormley | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Lewis
5 DT
|
E. Lewis | 1-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Silver
96 DE
|
J. Silver | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Paul
55 DT
|
D. Paul | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ruiz
94 DE
|
D. Ruiz | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Mead
24 DB
|
C. Mead | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Moreland
40 DB
|
D. Moreland | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Tillett
56 LB
|
M. Tillett | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Garron
97 DE
|
Z. Garron | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wiggins
43 CB
|
T. Wiggins | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Kvietkus
9 DT
|
N. Kvietkus | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Gibson
49 DE
|
G. Gibson | 1-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Horn
33 S
|
E. Horn | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Toscano
39 LB
|
R. Toscano | 0-4 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. Lehane
30 K
|
S. Lehane | 0/0 | 0 | 1/1 | 1 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Cadogan
38 K
|
A. Cadogan | 8 | 42.9 | 1 | 65 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Laube
20 RB
|
D. Laube | 4 | 18.0 | 19 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Briscoe III
5 WR
|
C. Briscoe III | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
E. Horn 33 S
|
E. Horn | 1 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
K. Pickett
8 QB
|
K. Pickett | 24/28 | 403 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Patti
12 QB
|
N. Patti | 4/4 | 39 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Beville
17 QB
|
D. Beville | 1/1 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Hammond Jr.
9 RB
|
R. Hammond Jr. | 17 | 100 | 3 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Abanikanda
2 RB
|
I. Abanikanda | 13 | 75 | 1 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Davis
22 RB
|
V. Davis | 7 | 50 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Carter
40 RB
|
D. Carter | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mack
11 WR
|
T. Mack | 1 | 8 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pickett
8 QB
|
K. Pickett | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Sibley Jr.
23 RB
|
T. Sibley Jr. | 3 | 5 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Jacques-Louis
18 WR
|
S. Jacques-Louis | 1 | -3 | 0 | -3 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Addison
3 WR
|
J. Addison | 6 | 6 | 179 | 3 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Abanikanda
2 RB
|
I. Abanikanda | 4 | 4 | 55 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Jacques-Louis
18 WR
|
S. Jacques-Louis | 5 | 4 | 50 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Bartholomew
86 TE
|
G. Bartholomew | 3 | 3 | 48 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Barden
10 WR
|
J. Barden | 3 | 3 | 33 | 0 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Mack
11 WR
|
T. Mack | 2 | 2 | 26 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Krull
7 TE
|
L. Krull | 4 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bradley
81 WR
|
J. Bradley | 1 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stovall
4 WR
|
M. Stovall | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Vardzel
83 WR
|
J. Vardzel | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Tipton
6 WR
|
T. Tipton | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Hammond Jr.
9 RB
|
R. Hammond Jr. | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
B. George
30 LB
|
B. George | 4-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Davis
20 LB
|
W. Davis | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Morgan III
6 DL
|
J. Morgan III | 2-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Hill
9 DB
|
B. Hill | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Kamara
11 LB
|
B. Kamara | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. O'Brien
22 DB
|
P. O'Brien | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Johnson
4 DL
|
N. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Bright
38 LB
|
C. Bright | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bentley
92 DL
|
T. Bentley | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Smith
17 LB
|
L. Smith | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Petrishen
0 LB
|
J. Petrishen | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Mack III
27 DB
|
B. Mack III | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Campbell III
24 LB
|
P. Campbell III | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Baldonado
87 DL
|
H. Baldonado | 0-1 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hayes
50 DL
|
D. Hayes | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Alexandre
5 DL
|
D. Alexandre | 0-2 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Brima
57 DL
|
B. Brima | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Tallandier
26 DB
|
J. Tallandier | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mathis
21 DB
|
D. Mathis | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Hallett II
31 DB
|
E. Hallett II | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Green
2 DL
|
D. Green | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
S. Scarton
91 K
|
S. Scarton | 0/0 | 0 | 9/9 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||
B. Sauls
90 K
|
B. Sauls | 0/0 | 0 | 0/2 | 0 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
K. Christodoulou
98 P
|
K. Christodoulou | 3 | 47.0 | 1 | 58 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
I. Abanikanda
2 RB
|
I. Abanikanda | 1 | 18.0 | 18 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stovall
4 WR
|
M. Stovall | 1 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Barden 10 WR
|
J. Barden | 2 | 14.0 | 27 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Stovall 4 WR
|
M. Stovall | 2 | -3.5 | -2 | 0 |