Pittsburgh beat Virginia Tech 35-33 Friday night at Lane Stadium as John Love’s game-winning field goal attempt missed with time expired. Cataurus Hicks caught two touchdown passes for the Panthers, who improved to 5-0 despite being outgained 499-295 in total yards.
Virginia Tech jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter but committed four turnovers, two fumbles and two interceptions, that proved fatal. Pittsburgh outscored Virginia Tech 35-10 after the Hokies took their 14-0 lead. Grunkemeyer finished with 434 yards and three passing touchdowns but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.
Takeaways from Pitt’s win over Virginia Tech
Turnovers buried Virginia Tech
The Hokies committed four turnovers, two fumbles lost and two interceptions, against a Pitt defense that committed zero. A minus-4 turnover margin overwhelmed the Hokies’ statistical advantages, which included an 18-21 edge in first downs and nearly five extra minutes of possession.
Pitt dominated the third quarter
After trailing 24-21 at halftime, Pittsburgh controlled the third quarter. Damon Ferguson Jr.’s 15-yard touchdown run put the Panthers ahead 28-24. Pitt outscored Virginia Tech 14-0 in the period as the Hokies’ offense gained just 27 yards.
Virginia Tech’s rally fell just short
Down 35-24 in the fourth quarter, the Hokies’ defense scored a safety on Ferguson’s tackle for a loss in the end zone, cutting the deficit to 35-26. Grunkemeyer then found Davion Brown for a 28-yard touchdown with 10:07 left, trimming the margin to 35-33. The Hokies’ final possession ended when John Love’s field-goal attempt as time expired missed, according to Sports Illustrated.
Player of the game: Cataurus Hicks
Hicks caught three passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. His 29-yard score from Holden Geriner put Pittsburgh up 35-24 early in the fourth quarter.
By the numbers
Virginia Tech gained 499 yards to Pittsburgh’s 295, including Grunkemeyer’s 434 passing yards at 10.6 yards per attempt. Pittsburgh’s two-quarterback rotation of Mason Heintschel and Holden Geriner combined for 191 passing yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Virginia Tech was 1 for 1 on fourth-down conversions; Pittsburgh was 1 for 3. Turnovers decided it: Pittsburgh forced four takeaways, two interceptions by Cameron Lindsey and Shawn Lee Jr., plus two fumbles, while committing none.
What’s next
Pittsburgh (5-0) travels to Louisville next. Virginia Tech (4-1) faces road games against Miami, Clemson and SMU, plus a home matchup with Virginia, as it looks to rebound from its first loss.
Reporting from Sports Illustrated contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
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