In a game delayed 65 minutes by storms, Pitt survived UCF, 12-7 at Acrisure Stadium yesterday.
Pitt’s defense held Central Florida to only 20 yards rushing and and 206 total yards, while the Panthers’ offense generated 315 yards. Quarterback Mason Heintschel completed 18 of 29 passes for 212 yards.
Antonio Chadha booted a 28-yard field goal to give Pitt a 3-0 lead with four seconds left in the first quarter, and the Panthers’ Braylan Lovelace blitzed up the middle in the second quarter, forcing UCF’s Alonza Barnett III to throw the ball away from the end zone, which resulted in a safety and a 5-0 Pitt lead. Later in the quarter, freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. scored on a 13-yard run to make it 12-0.
Barnett threw a 19-yard touchdown pass with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter to get UCF on the board, but the Knights could get no closer than five points, setting the final at 12-7.
Pitt is 2-0 and will play 1-1 Syracuse in their ACC opener on Thursday night. The orange lost to California, 21-18 in their ACC opener yesterday.
