Possessing a dynamic offense has rarely — if ever — been a problem for the Pitt Panthers (7-4) this season. And Saturday, Pitt rang up 56 points in a thorough 56-14 waxing of the Duke Blue Devils (4-7) in a game that, for once, didn’t come down to the wire. A week after a huge upset of the then-No. 2 Clemson Tigers, the Panthers' defense came out the chute with decidedly more bite than usual. On the second play from scrimmage, linebacker Oluwaseun Idowu punched the ball out of running ... Read More
Panthers’ early deficit vs. Hokies sinks Pitt
Murphy’s Law was in full effect for about the first quarter and a half of Thursday night's game at Heinz Field for the Pitt Panthers. You name it; it went wrong — turnovers, penalties and straight-up bad luck. In one instance, a well-defended pass ping-ponged off both the Virginia Tech receiver and the Pitt defender, staying alive and off the ground long enough to be hauled in for a big gain for the Hokies. But the efforts of Pitt's determined defense weren't enough, and the Panthers (5-3, ... Read More
Blewitt’s late field goal gives Panthers 37-34 win
It was another close game for the Pitt Panthers, another fourth-quarter lead blown, another opportunity potentially squandered. But thanks to a last-second 31-yard field goal from kicker Chris Blewitt, the Panthers held on to beat the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 37-34, and gave Pitt faithful something to celebrate on homecoming weekend. Pitt started strong on its first drive, torching Georgia Tech. Wide receiver Quadree Henderson tagged the defense for 20 yards on two carries, and the ... Read More
Panthers’ dynamic offense leading the way
There's nothing like some home cooking to cure what ails you. Last Saturday, back at Heinz Field for the first time in three week, the Pitt Panthers (3-2) got back to their winning ways, defeating Marshall 43-27. Now, several weeks in to the season, Pitt's offense seems to have found itself in a serious groove. The Panthers boast a surprisingly potent offense thus far, averaging 37.4 points a contest through five games. Three times already, Pitt has eclipsed the 40-point barrier in a ... Read More
Multi-dimensional offense powers Panthers
A knife, a screw driver and a can opener are all great tools. However, each is specifically crafted to perform a singular purpose. Hence, the beauty of the Swiss Army knife, which contains all three — and more. None of those tools is equipped to cover the entire spectrum of what you might need it for individually, but the Swiss Army knife's versatility increases its usefulness. Much like a Swiss Army knife, the key to a balanced football offense is versatility. Having dynamic players ... Read More
Pitt QB Nate Peterman shows off trick-shot abilities all across Pittsburgh
The next time you find yourself aimlessly clicking around YouTube, do yourself a favor. Scroll your curser up to the search bar and enter “Nate Peterman trick shot.” Click on the first video, and you’ll see Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Nate Peterman throwing an impressive array of trick shots. As a part of Pitt’s beefed-up social media presence on its YouTube channel, PittLiveWire, Peterman completes feats of both great distance and accuracy. For his unorthodox target practice, his chucks ... Read More
Quick hits from Pitt’s spring football game
On Saturday, the general public got its first look at the newest edition of Pitt Panthers football. I was in attendance for Pitt's annual spring game on an absolutely gorgeous, sun-drenched Pittsburgh afternoon. While taking in the action, I had a few quick observations: Stout defense ruled the day Some of the offensive ineptitude can be chalked up to jitters and it being the first live game-action of the season, but the defense was smothering. For much of the first half, the scoreboard ... Read More
Sluggish start dooms Panthers in a 29-24 loss to Miami
It looks like the Pitt Panthers might have slept in a little late post-Thanksgiving for their noon kickoff today against the visiting Miami Hurricanes. In spite of having the opportunity to earn their ninth regular season win for only the third time in 32 years and send their seniors out victorious in their final game at Heinz Field, the Panthers (8-4, 6-2 ACC) were unable to overcome a lethargic start that led to a 23-3 halftime deficit, ultimately suffering a disappointing 29-24 loss to the ... Read More
Pitt rebounds with road win vs. Duke
Pat Narduzzi and the Pitt Panthers football team entered Saturday’s ACC contest at Duke with an opportunity to show what they are really made of after dropping their past two contests. Pitt quarterback Nate Peterman threw three touchdown passes, two in the third quarter, and the Panthers defense had a solid effort as Pitt showed they can bounce back nicely, defeating Duke 31-13. This one didn’t have the 206 combined points that the past two meetings between the two schools featured, but ... Read More
Pitt vs. Duke: Preview, Prediction, Analysis and more
When Pitt and Duke have hooked up the past two seasons, the guy with the toughest job in the stadium has been the scoreboard operator. In their two ACC meetings, the Panthers and Blue Devils have combined to score 212 points (106 each). The two teams meet again on Saturday with a lot on the line. Both are riding two-game losing streaks. Pitt was beaten at home by Notre Dame 42-30, while the Blue Devils were crushed by North Carolina 66-31. Pitt is looking to stay in the ACC Coastal ... Read More