Pittsburgh football navigated without star quarterback Mason Heintschel after erasing a 10-point deficit. They eventually watched the final field goal attempt sail to the left. Then head coach Pat Narduzzi dropped a stirring, NSFW message after Pitt defeated previous unbeaten Virginia Tech 35-33.
Pitt and Narduzzi entered this battle of Atlantic Coast Conference unbeatens at 4-0. But remained unranked in the top 25. Now the veteran head coach sent out this fiery message after claiming the road victory.
“We got a hell of a football team. Any of those voters out there, if they wake their a** up, maybe they might figure that out,” Narduzzi said postgame.
The Panthers, again, needed to turn toward a different passer after Heintschel left with a leg injury. Heintschel went 10-of-18 for 118 yards and tossed one touchdown. Backup Holden Geriner handled the reins and kept the offense moving, going 8-of-12 for 78 yards with one touchdown.
Geringer handed Pitt its biggest lead at 35-24, connecting on a 29-yard touchdown strike to Cataurius Hicks. But the Panthers needed to get out of a three double-digit deficits.
Virginia Tech jumped out in front to a 14-0 lead with quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer becoming responsible for both. Including rushing for one touchdown. Then Pitt fell behind 17-7 and 24-14 later in the game before the comeback sparked.
The Hokies, now coached by former Penn State leader James Franklin, managed to cut the lead to 35-33 through Grunkemeyer's 28-yard touchdown to Davion Brown.
Running back Ja'Kyrian Turner rushed for 14 carries and tallied 65 yards plus scored once to lead the Pitt ground game. The Panthers are now 5-0 overall and awaiting votes into the top 25.