Pitt Handles Albany In Opener

| September 2, 2018


PITTSBURGH – Maurice Ffrench returned the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and then scored on a 9-yard run later in the first quarter to help Pitt to a season-opening 33-7 win over Albany Saturday at Heinz Field.

(Photo of Kenny Pickett. Photo courtesy of Pitt Athletics)

Box Score

Sophomore quarter Kenny Pickett, making just his second start, also ran for a touchdown and threw a pair of second-quarter scores to Rafael Araujo-Lopes in a game that saw all the scoring happen before halftime.

Pickett threw for 154 yards (16 of 22 with an interception) and ran for 42 on six carries to help Pitt outgain Albany, 407-323 including 238 to 60 on the ground.

Watch Head coach Pat Narduzzi’s postgame press conference courtesy of Pitt Athletics LiveWire

Qadree Ollison led the Panthers run attack with 73 yards on seven carries A.J. Davis adding 46 yards on 13 totes. Araujo-Lopez had three catches for 50 yards with Taysir Mack also catching three balls for 44 yards. Pitt had 10 different receivers catch passes.

Albany’s lone touchdown came in the first quarter with the squad down 19-0 and came from on a 9-yard pass from Vincent Testaverde, the son of former Miami (Fla.) Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback Vinny Testaverde, to Dev Holmes.

Holmes had a big day with nine catches for 148 yards with Testaverde going 18 of 29 passing for 263 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Pitt is back in action at 8 p.m. Saturday when it hosts Penn State.

NOTES

OFFENSE

  • The Panthers’ starting offensive line included at left tackle Stefano Millin, making his Pitt debut following a graduate transfer from Kent State; redshirt freshman right tackle Gabe Houy, playing in his first collegiate game; and senior left guard Connor Dintino, who made his first career offensive line start. (Dintino has two starting assignments for his career as he opened at fullback against Villanova in 2016.) Senior right guard Mike Herndon made just his second career start.
  • Sophomore Kenny Pickett, making his second career start, finished the first half 13 of 13 for 129 yards and two touchdowns. His first incompletion came on his initial attempt of the second half when he threw the ball away under pressure. Pickett finished 16-of-22 passing for 154 yards with two TDs and one INT. He additionally rushed for 42 yards on six carries and a score.
  • Senior receiver Rafael Araujo-Lopes had the first multiple-TD reception game of his career (with two). His scoring catches covered 3 and 42 yards. (The latter marked the longest reception of his career.)
    Pitt finished with 238 rushing yards and two TDs on 37 attempts. The Panthers are 13-3 under Pat Narduzzi when rushing for at least 200 yards.
  • DEFENSE

  • The Panthers’ starting defense included senior middle linebacker Quintin Wirginis and sophomore cornerback Damarri Mathis. It was the first career start for both players. Wirginis made his return to active duty after missing the entire 2017 season due to injury.
  • Junior safety Damar Hamlin halted Albany’s first drive with an interception at the Pitt 2, returning it 79 yards. It marked the second INT of his collegiate career. The 79-yard INT return marked Pitt’s longest since October 16, 2010, when Ricky Gary had an 80-yard return for a score at Syracuse.
  • Sophomore Damarri Mathis ended Albany’s opening drive of the second half with an interception in the end zone. The INT was the first of his collegiate career.
  • Pitt compiled five sacks, led by sophomore defensive tackle Keyshon Camp’s two sacks. It marked Pitt’s highest sack total since recording five against Duke on Nov. 19, 2016. The Panthers are 11-3 under Pat Narduzzi when they record at least four sacks.
  • SPECIAL TEAMS

  • Junior Maurice Ffrench returned the game’s opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown, the first kick return score of his collegiate career. It marked Pitt’s first game-opening kickoff return TD since Dec. 28, 2015, when Quadree Henderson had a 100-yard return against Navy in the Military Bowl.
  • Pitt now has six kickoff return touchdowns during Coach Pat Narduzzi’s tenure (since 2015).
  • Watch Game Highlights. Courtesy of Pitt Athletics LiveWire


    Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

    Category: Local News, News, Sports