Pitt and North Carolina spent most of Saturday afternoon exchanging touchdowns before the Panthers secured a 31-24 win, which reached a key moment early in the fourth quarter.
With Pitt holding a seven-point lead after the score was tied three times at 10, 17, and 24, North Carolina aimed to tie it again with 9 minutes and 14 seconds left. On fourth down, needing less than a yard for a first down at the Pitt 8, North Carolina coach Mack Brown chose running back Omarian Hampton, the ACC’s leading rusher.
Pitt’s defense, which hadn’t made any interceptions and only got a sack late in the game, stepped up when it counted. Hampton, who finished the game with 106 rushing yards, ran into the line but was stopped without gaining any ground. North Carolina attempted six fourth downs and only succeeded on two.
After a review, Pitt took possession and gained six first downs before the drive halted at the North Carolina 19. Ben Sauls kicked a 37-yard field goal to extend the lead to 34-24 with 2:01 left. This was his second field goal of the game and his ninth successful kick this season without a miss.
This win improved Pitt’s record to 5-0 for the first time since 1991, making them 1-0 in the ACC. It was also their first victory in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after seven previous attempts over the past 50 years.
Quarterback Eli Holstein controlled the game almost throughout, aside from a Pick 6 in the first quarter. He totaled 457 of Pitt’s 523 yards, completing 25 of 42 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns. He was also the leading rusher for Pitt, with 76 yards on 10 carries, and he was not sacked.
The key moment came when Holstein scored a 3-yard touchdown run to break the tie with 12:44 remaining in the game.
Running back Desmond Reid was Holstein’s main target, catching 11 passes for 155 yards and carrying the ball 18 times for 55 yards.
Pitt took the lead after halftime, breaking a 17-17 tie by stopping North Carolina on fourth down at the Panthers’ 48. The offense capitalized on this great field position, scoring on a 2-yard pass to Reid, who nearly lost the football before crossing the goal line. A replay review confirmed the touchdown.
For the second time, a long pass to Konata Mumpfield set up a score, this time a 46-yard completion to the 1-yard line.
However, the score was tied as the fourth quarter began after North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell connected with tight end John Copenhaver for an 11-yard touchdown with 2 minutes and 7 seconds left in the third.
Pitt aimed for a quick start but had to settle for a 24-yard field goal by Ben Sauls, taking a 3-0 lead early in the game.
Holstein connected with Mumpfield for a 43-yard gain, putting the Panthers at the UNC 7-yard line. However, Daniel Carter dropped a pass that could have been a touchdown, and on third down, Holstein’s pass to tight end Gavin Bartholomew was knocked down at the line.
Then, Pitt found themselves trailing after getting to the Tar Heels’ 20-yard line. Holstein’s pass intended for Poppi Williams was intercepted by North Carolina defensive back Kaleb Cost and returned 84 yards for a touchdown.
North Carolina had a long possession that lasted 19 plays and over nine minutes, moving into the first and second quarters. They converted two fourth downs during this drive, but their third attempt from the Pitt 9 resulted in an incomplete pass, leaving them with nothing from the lengthy possession.
Pitt quickly answered back with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to C.J. Lee, set up by a 72-yard catch by Reid. Unlike UNC’s long drive, Pitt scored in just 93 seconds.
