Jan. 3, 1990: Pitt quiets Aggies’ yell

Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a “Greatest Games” series that will appear in The Pitt… Editor’s note: This is the fourth in a “Greatest Games” series that will appear in The Pitt News the day before each Pitt football game this year. Each part in the series will detail Pitt’s greatest game against that week’s opponent, and will contain the original game story as it appeared in The Pitt News. This story was written by Scott Campbell on Jan. 8. 1990.

EL PASO, Texas – Paul Hackett did it for the first time, and Alex Van Pelt and Curvin Richards did it for the umpteenth time.

The trio propelled Pitt (8-3-1) to victory over the Texas A’M Aggies (8-4) in the John Hancock Bowl, held over Christmas break at the Sun Bowl Stadium.

Pitt opened the scoring when Richards plowed over a right tackle from 12 yards out for a touchdown. Richards finished the game with 156 yards and 23 carries and allowed Hackett to successfully mix up Pitt’s offensive scheme.

On the play previous to Richards’ run, the Panthers faced fourth and one from the A’M 23-yard line. Hackett gambled and went for it. Van Pelt sensed an Aggie blitz and audibled a call, then dumped the ball over the middle to tight end Lionel Sykes, who picked up 12 yards.

“We knew they were a blitzing team, and we knew we could take advantage of that,” said Van Pelt, who threw for 354 yards, breaking Pitt’s single-season passing record of 2,876, set by Dan Marino in 1981. Van Pelt ended the season with 2,881.

The Aggies fought back and tied the score at 10 before Pitt took possession with 1:27 left in the half.

Van Pelt threw to Olanda Truitt, who darted 59 yards to the A’M 11-yard line. On third down, Van Pelt hit Ronald Redmon on a quick-drop pass from eight yards out for a score, and the Panthers went into the locker room ahead.

In Pitt’s first possession of the second half, Van Pelt and Truitt hooked up again, this time for 32 yards down to the Aggie one. Van Pelt sneaked in for the touchdown on the next play, giving the Panthers a healthy, 14-point lead.

A’M rallied back, however. Keith McAfee scampered left for a 31-yard score, and went over the top from one yard out for another touchdown. Randy Simmons ran it in from five yards out, and the Aggies took the lead 28-24, missing all three two-point conversion opportunities.

Pitt got the ball back with 4:20 left in the game, and Van Pelt did what he does best: aired it out.

On third and 10 from the Pitt 16, Sykes made the catch of the year.

Van Pelt’s pass was swatted away by the Aggies’ defender Chris Crooms, but Sykes tipped the ball back in play with one hand, caught it with the other hand, and sprinted up the sideline before being pushed out of bounds after gaining 28 yards.

Six plays later, it was third and 10 again from the A’M 44. Van Pelt saw something he liked in the Aggie defense and audibled, sending Henry Tuten long. Van Pelt heaved a rainbow. The ball slithered through the hands of Aggie defender Kevin Smith and into Tuten’s around the 12. Tuten then raced past a stunned Smith for the winning touchdown.

“You can’t fault Kevin Smith,” said Aggie coach R.C. Slocum. “He was in position; he just didn’t make the play and [Tuten] did.”

“We were just looking for the first down,” Van Pelt said. “But they showed blitz, and the cornerback bumped up so he could cover Henry more tightly, so I sent him long.”

“There is not much that you can say [about Van Pelt] that hasn’t been said all year,” said Hackett. “The man understands the game. There is no question where the leadership on this team is. It’s square on his shoulders. It showed today.”

Van Pelt was selected as the game’s most valuable player, but modestly attributed any credit to his teammates.

“I’m just fortunate enough to play with quality players,” said Van Pelt. “They’re the ones that made me look good.”

A’M had one last chance to come back, however, and 2:19 to do it in.

The Aggies worked the ball up to their own 47 with 1:08 to go, when quarterback Lance Pavlas decided to try for field-goal position in one play.

One pass was broken up by Alonzo Hampton, and another was dropped by tight end Mike Jones. On third down, Pavlas went deep, but the pass was snatched by Pitt cornerback Barry Threats at the Panther 22.

“We weren’t going to let this one get away for coach Hackett,” said Threats.

A record held by Dan Marino was broken on a last-minute catch for a winning touchdown to cap a comeback for a new coach in his first collegiate game.

“This was the perfect game to be on television,” Pitt safety Dan Crossman said.