Halfway through the fourth quarter in last night’s Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl, Pitt had a 21-10 lead over Michigan State, but then it all fell apart, as the Spartan put together two long drives, held the ball for ten of the fifteen minutes of the final period, and after taking the lead, 24-21, ended Pitt’s hopes with a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Cal Haladay. That set the final score at 31-21 Michigan State.
Playing without star quarterback Kenny Pickett, a likely first-round NFL draft pick who opted out of the game to avoid injury, Pitt lost backup Nick Patti in the first quarter when Patti broke his collarbone diving for the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown scramble. The Panthers turned to third-stringer Davis Beville, who was 14 of 18 passing with a four-yard touchdown toss to Jared Wayne.
The other Pitt score came on a 28-yard fumble recovery and return by linebacker Cam Bright on the Spartans’ first possession of the second half.
Pitt played without Pickett and top cornerback Damarri Mathis, another opt out. Defensive linemen Keyshon Camp and Deslin Alexandre also were out with injuries, and top running back Izzy Abanikanda was hurt early in the game and hardly played, running the ball only five times for 16 yards.
Abanikanda let the opening kickoff land at the one-yard line, expecting it to roll into the end zone for a touchback, but it caromed backward into the field of play, and the Panthers ended up starting the drive at the two. After a three-and-out, Michigan State returned the punt to the Panthers’ 29 and scored soon after.
Coach Pat Narduzzi said he has a proud but disappointed locker room after the game, but he will be right back at it today, looking forward to next year.
The game brought to an end the college football career of Indiana High grad Jake Zilinskas, who walked on to the Pitt squad in 2017 and eventually earned a scholarship.
After the game Pitt wide receiver coach Brennan Marion told the team he is leaving the program to become the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Texas.
BOWL GAMES
The College Football Playoff Semifinals will be played today, with top-ranked Alabama taking on #4 Cincinnati in the Cotton Bowl at 3:30 and #2 Michigan playing #3 Georgia in the Orange Bowl at 7:30.
Other bowl games today:
11:00 Gator Bowl – Wake Forest vs. Rutgers
12:00 Sun Bowl – Washington State vs. Central Michigan
YESTERDAY
Duke’s Mayo Bowl South Carolina 38 North Carolina 21
Music City Bowl Purdue 48 Tennessee 45 (OT)
Las Vegas Bowl Wisconsin 20 Arizona State 13
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