Pickett OT Touchdown Run Helps Pitt Hold Off Late Charge by North Carolina


PITTSBURGH (EYT) – Kenny Pickett’s 3-yard touchdown run in overtime helped Pitt win another close contest, 34-27, over visiting North Carolina Thursday night at Heinz Field.

(Photo by Paul Burdick. Check out more of Burdick’s work here)

The Panthers (7-3, 4-2) had the ball first in overtime, and 15-yard Pickett to Taysir Mack pass on third-and-14 from the North Carolina 29-yard line helped set up the Pickett scoring run.

The Pitt defense then allowed North Carolina 4-6, 3-4) to get the 11-yard line on its overtime possession before stiffing and securing the win.

The Tar Heels had forced the extra session when Noah Ruggles hit a 32-yard field goal with just 13 seconds left in regulation. That capped a 13-play, 60-yard drive that started with 5:18 left following a 24-yard Alex Kessman field goal that had given Pitt a 27-24 lead.

North Carolina converted a third-and-11 from the Pitt 40 on the drive thanks to a 13-yard Sam Howell to Dazz Newsome pass.

Pitt had led 24-10 going to the fourth quarter only to watch the Tar Heels storm back to tie the game thanks to a 10-yard Howell to Dyami Brown scoring pass early in the quarter (13:11) that was followed by a 34-yard Howell to Newsome scoring pass with 11:43 left in regulation after Pitt had gone three-and-out following the Brown touchdown

Trailing 7-3 at the end of the first quarter, Pitt scored 21 of the next 24 points.

A 2-yard Pickett run gave the Panthers a 10-7 lead just under three minutes into the second quarter.

Pickett then connected with Shocky Jacques-Louis for a 74-yard score just over two minutes later to make it 17-7.

A Ruggles 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter made it 17-10, and Pitt missed an opportunity to extend the lead when Kessman missed a 26-yard field goal on the Panthers’ next drive.

North Carolina then moved the ball to the Pitt 31-yard line, but a Howell pass was picked off at the 7-yard line by Damarri Mathis with 30 seconds left in the half.

The Panthers extended their lead to 24-10 with 14-play, 85-yard drive that ended on an 8-yard A.J. Davis touchdown run with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

Pickett had a big night through the air going 25 of 41 for 359 yards and the touchdown while adding 53 yards and two scores on 12 carries.

Davis led the Pitt ground attack with 19 carries for 58 yards, while Jacques-Louis had four catches for 104 yards and the touchdown. Mack added six grabs for 83 yards, and Davis had two catches for 33 yards.

Howell was 27 of 43 for 322 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for North Carolina.

Newsome caught 11 passes for 170 yards and a score, Beau Corrales had five catches for 92 yards and a touchdown and Brown had five for 35 and a score.

Antonio Williams led all rushers with 12 carries for 107 yards.

Pitt, now just a ½ game back of Virginia for the ACC Coastal lead – although the Panthers lost to the Cavaliers in the season opener – are back in action Nov. 23 at Virginia Tech, who Pitt is now a ½ game ahead in the Coastal Division. The Hokies play at Georgia Tech Saturday.


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