Pitt football season ends on a sour note with two losses

If you missed Pitt football over Thanksgiving break, it was a good time to do so. What was once a record-setting season ended on a whimper as the Panthers dropped both contests over the break. With the losses, the Panthers extended their losing streak to five to finish the season 7-5.

Louisville

The Panthers were demolished by the Cardinals 37-9. In this one, the Panthers only experienced bad outcomes. On the opening drive, the Panthers’ offense marched down to the Louisville red zone, but a pass by redshirt first-year quarterback Eli Holstein was picked off, killing the Panthers’ scoring threat. 

Louisville responded with a field goal, and Holstein left the game with an injury on the subsequent Panther drive. Once Holstein was carted off, the Panthers’ energy was sapped and the Cardinals poured it on from there, scoring 34 unanswered points before the Panthers hit the scoreboard. 

In Holstein’s absence, redshirt junior quarterback Nate Yarnell underwhelmed. Yarnell finished his day with a mere 96 yards with one touchdown and an interception on 11/23 passing. With an ineffective passing game, the Cardinals zeroed in on junior running back Desmond Reid and the Pitt running game. Reid finished his night with 59 yards on 19 carries. 

Louisville had an efficient night offensively. The Cardinals’ senior quarterback Tyler Shough tallied 293 yards and two touchdowns on 17/28 passes. Louisville’s first-year running back Isaac Brown rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns. 

While the final score tells a different story, the Panthers had opportunities throughout the game. In the second quarter, the Panthers stood up the Cardinals on the goal line, potentially swinging momentum in their favor. In the following two plays, Yarnell threw an interception, and Louisville scored on the following play, extending their lead to 24-0.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Wire to wire, the Cardinals had answers for everything the Panthers could throw at them and by the second quarter, Pitt looked completely lost. 

Boston College

Injuries sustained by Pitt players would play a huge factor against Boston College, as the Panthers would have to travel without Holstein or Reid — the latter left the game against the Cardinals with a concussion.

Pitt’s offense was extremely limited without Holstein or Reid, and the continued struggles from the injured offensive line did not help either. 

Nate Yarnell did his best with a limited arsenal and protection. Yarnell finished with 296 passing yards and three touchdowns to one pick. Senior wide receiver Konata Mumpfield tallied an impressive 144 yards and a touchdown on eight receptions. Senior tight end Gavin Bartholomew added two touchdowns for the Panthers, the first multiple-touchdown game of his four-year career in Pittsburgh. 

The defense had to take most of the blame for this loss, as the Pitt defense surrendered 253 yards and two touchdowns to Boston College’s third-string junior quarterback Grayson James. One of those touchdowns was a 28-yard strike to Eagles’ first-year wideout Reed Harris that extended BC’s lead to 10 as the Panthers were mounting a comeback. 

Once again, critical mistakes were the Panthers undoing, as a 55-yard pick-six by Eagles defensive lineman Ty Clemons created a potential 10-point swing that would have made the game more winnable for Pitt. The Panthers would ultimately fall 34-23, ending their regular season in brutal fashion.

Watching such a promising season go up in smoke is disheartening for the Panthers and their fanbase. A recurring theme in this five-game losing streak is injuries and poor mistakes that put the Panthers in an even bigger bind. 

This offseason is once again crucial for the Panthers. With a lot of production leaving, head coach Pat Narduzzi and his staff will need to bring in pieces that can complement their core of offensive and defensive talent. 

The Panthers still have a bowl game coming up, offering them and their players building blocks to replicate and expand upon their record-breaking start to 2024.