Mason’s magic falters against Florida State, Pitt loses 17-27 // Thomas Simione, Staff Writer
First-year quarterback Mason Heintschel breathed new life into Pitt’s season last Saturday with a 48-7 win over Boston College. It was a great sign for an offense that looked disjointed to begin the year, with “Money Mason” seemingly turning the season around overnight.
Heintschel’s hot start generated excitement among Pitt fans, but going on the road against No. 25 Florida State could prove too tall a task. Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee is always a tough environment regardless of FSU’s ranking, and it’s uncertain if the first-year can block out the noise.
Heintschel looked comfortable in his first-ever start, but that came at home against a Boston College team that now sits at 1-4. Despite a 323-yard day, his longest completion through the air was just 25 yards.
Florida State is on a two-game losing streak, but the veteran experience of senior quarterback Tommy Castellanos will prove enough to outlast the inexperience of Heintschel in his second start with the Panthers.
FSU holds on vs. Pitt 27-24 // Rithika Praturu, Staff Writer
This game makes for an interesting matchup. No one knows which Pitt team will take the field — the one that blew a 17-0 lead against Louisville or the one that dropped 48 on Boston College. Florida State enters this game after a tough loss to Miami and still hasn’t won a conference game this season. The outcome will define the season for both teams.
While Florida State has a much stronger defense than Boston, Pitt’s head coach Pat Narduzzi should give a second nod to Heintschel. While Heintschel and his four touchdowns in his first ever start was impressive last weekend, it won’t hold up to the somehow still 25th-ranked team in the country.
Pitt won’t change its game plan — they don’t have a consistent runner this season, so the Seminoles’ defense just needs to apply pressure and stop the pass. If they get into Heintschel’s head early on his first away start, it’s wraps.
Florida State is 3-2 on the season and has a plethora of options in the running back position in junior Gavin Sawchuk, first-year Ousmane Kromah and junior Samuel Singleton Jr. to name a few. If senior quarterback Tommy Castellanos can get his team up early with smart decisions and not play into the defense’s hands the way the team did versus Miami, they win.
Heintschel puts the ACC on notice with a 20-17 victory over FSU // Ethan Lemler, Staff Writer
Heintschel is the talk of the town since leading the Panthers past Boston College 48-7. Heintschel has garnered national attention since his thrashing of the Eagles, getting ranked as the No. 10 college first-year quarterback in this week’s ESPN rankings.
No. 25 Florida State will bring the most difficult challenge for the young Panther, as Tallahassee will prove a good test for what Mason can bring.
I expect some early mistakes, but Heintschel showcased arm talent beyond his years, and the Kade Bell scheme will prove effective against a defense who have allowed 46 and 28 yards against ACC opponents so far this season.
On the other side of the ball, Florida State comes into the game with the second-best rushing attack in FBS, but Pitt will equal that, allowing less than 2 yards per rush so far this season.
Narduzzi’s defense needs to focus on stopping this rushing attack, but junior wide receiver Duce Robinson will wreck the game. Pitt needs to find a way to apply pressure to support a secondary that only allowed 89 yards in the air last week. This writer will go further into his prediction — a late-game Castellanos interception will propel the Panthers to a crucial road victory.
What you gonna do when Mason Mania runs wild on you? // Sean McQuillan, Staff Writer
Don’t we love a good “trap game?” Well, get this.
Narduzzi said after Pitt’s dominant 48-7 win over Boston College last week — the Panthers’ second-largest margin of victory against a conference opponent — “[Heintschel] has the Pickett ability.”
The man deemed to have “the Pickett ability” in his collegiate debut registered over 500 yards of total offense, eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark, threw four touchdown passes to four different targets on 30-41 passing and earned a QBR of 171.5. Those four touchdown passes set a record for a first-year quarterback at Pitt.
Florida State has Castellanos, one of — if not the biggest — transfer portal positives thus far at the helm. He is the “dual-threat” quarterback any college coach would dream of having. Although more of a rusher, Castellanos will surely take advantage of the air raid that Florida State brought out against Miami.
Or, that’s what he wants Pitt to think. Get ready for shark-infested waters, Mr. Castellanos. Louis, Lovelace and Biles make up the nation’s greatest rush defense, and this is going to be the sole reason as to why the Seminoles’ tomahawk chomp will go silent when zeros hit the clock.
Give me the Panthers in an upset this Saturday, 27-24.