Derrick Davis Jr.’s 1-yard touchdown run with 32 seconds remaining capped the second of two Pitt touchdown drives in the final 3:06, as the host Panthers came from behind to defeat Backyard Brawl rival West Virginia 38-34 on Saturday.
The Panthers (3-0) turned around a 10-point deficit with drives of 75 and 77 yards in less than two minutes apiece to win the game, despite being outgained 401-379.
Eli Holstein led the way for Pitt, going 21-of-30 passing for 301 yards and three touchdowns, including a 40-yard toss to Daejon Reynolds with 3:06 left to make it a one-score game.
Holstein also rushed for a team-high 59 yards, while Kenny Johnson and Konata Mumpfield were both above 70 yards receiving.
Garrett Greene threw two touchdowns and two interceptions as part of a 210-yard performance for the Mountaineers (1-2). The second pick came from Kyle Louis on the final play.
The Mountaineers’ second offensive series of the first quarter resulted in the opening score, as Greene hit CJ Donaldson Jr. for a 10-yard pass and ran to the end zone. Rodney Gallagher III’s 33-yard catch-and-run three plays earlier was key to the drive.
Holstein and Johnson connected for a 42-yard gain on the ensuing Pitt drive, but it stalled in the red zone and led to Ben Sauls kicking a 31-yard field goal.
After the Panthers forced a 3-and-out, the teams traded eight-play drives of over 70 yards on opposite sides of the first-quarter break. Pitt put up another score on Desmond Reid’s open 9-yard catch from Holstein with 30 seconds left in the opening quarter, but Jaheim White’s 5-yard run put the visitors ahead at 14-10.
An 11-play, 65-yard drive immediately followed for the Panthers, who found the end zone on a 19-yard Reid catch at the 7:01 mark of the second.
West Virginia tied the game at 17-17 when Michael Hayes II connected on a 44-yard field goal with 21 seconds left before halftime.
The Pitt defense came through with a go-ahead score at 8:27 of the third. Maverick Gracio blocked a West Virginia punt, and Brandon George grabbed it for a 24-yard scoop and score touchdown.
Jayden Bray caught a 44-yard toss from Greene to lead West Virginia’s first scoring drive of the third quarter, which resulted in a 4-yard Donaldson run.
Hayes kicked a 23-yard field goal to cap a 12-play drive that put the visitors ahead 27-24. Pitt’s Rashad Battle batted down a third-and-3 pass to force the kick.
A personal foul moved the Mountaineers across midfield on their following scoring drive, and Justin Robinson caught a 28-yard pass in the air to give the Mountaineers a 34-24 lead with 4:55 left.
