Defensive plays help Pitt hold on for 26-19 win over Virginia in homecoming game

In addition to chips and drinks, Pitt gave its student section a reason to stay the whole game on Saturday, as it let the visiting Virginia Cavaliers within seven points late in the fourth quarter before holding on to win its homecoming game Saturday.

After a 17-point first quarter outburst, Pitt’s offense stalled and relied on two defensive plays to set up scores in the second half, resulting in a 26-19 Pitt win over the Cavaliers (1-4, 0-1 ACC).

On fourth down and deep in its own territory with less than two minutes remaining, Virginia quarterback Matt Johns completed a 32-yard pass to T.J. Thorpe to keep its comeback hopes alive. A few plays later, though, Pitt (4-1, 2-0 ACC) forced consecutive incompletions from Johns to force a turnover on downs and clinch Pitt’s 700th program win.

“Our kids find a way to win,” head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “They fight through adversity. There’s going to be ups and downs, but how you react to them is important. Two games in a row our defense is on the field at the end of the game and tries to finish out the game. They did a heck of a job.”

The outcome might have been different had Pitt not received two key defensive plays in the third quarter.

Junior linebacker Matt Galambos intercepted Virginia quarterback Matt Johns at the start of the second half for 50 yards. Two plays later, redshirt junior quarterback Nathan Peterman found a leaping Tyler Boyd for the 8-yard score. Peterman finished the game 17-24 for 222 yards and two touchdowns.

Later in the quarter, redshirt junior linebacker Mike Caprara sacked Johns in the end zone for a safety to put Pitt up 26-13.

“Once I got the call, I just answered,” Caprara said. “I knew I was coming off the edge … once I got around, I got at his knees so I’d get him down quicker.”

Caprara said the defense has benefited and been able to create turnovers because the team is no longer singling each other out, whether for good or bad plays.

“From last year to this year, when there was a big play, everybody was pointing fingers,” he said. “This year, whenever it’s getting tough or whenever it’s going well, we look at each other like, ‘Alright, I know what the game plan is. I know what we’re going to do.’”

Although the defense stepped up late, it was Pitt’s offense that allowed the team to jump out to an early 17-3 first quarter lead.

Pitt’s opening drive ended after two long completions from Peterman to his tight ends, senior J.P. Holtz and junior Scott Orndoff. The second of these passes went to Orndoff for a 37-yard score just 2:04 into the game. The touchdown was Orndoff’s 15th career catch, with six of those going for scores. Orndoff said part of the tight end success came from his pass-catching teammates, specifically junior receiver Tyler Boyd, who finished with seven catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.

“If they’re going to take extra guys to cover [Boyd], we have to take that opportunity to make plays ourselves, and I think we’re doing a really good job of it,” Orndoff said.

Though Virginia did not register an offensive touchdown until late in the game, it kept the halftime score close thanks to a bizarre defensive score from senior defensive end Kwontie Moore.

Peterman pulled back a pass deep in Pitt territory, but as he brought the ball back, Moore smothered him and caused a fumble. He grabbed the loose ball before it hit the ground and ran the remaining 15 yards before anyone could come close to recovering on him. The score made it just a 17-10 halftime lead for Pitt. Peterman acknowledged it was a strange play, but said it’s on him to protect the ball better.

“I was a little surprised, I honestly didn’t feel that pressure,” Peterman said. “I just need to do a better job holding onto the ball and putting us in a better situation. I’ll get better and go for no turnovers next week.”

Pitt coasted on its double-digit lead until late in the game. With less than a minute remaining, Johns was driving Virginia down the field. But the drive stalled when Pitt’s secondary forced consecutive incompletions, causing a turnover on downs and locking up Pitt’s second conference win.

Narduzzi said the team could have avoided the close call if it made more explosive plays like it did in the first half and avoided turnovers.

“You can’t win a championship when you have missed opportunities,” Narduzzi said. “They’re making us earn our money. But our kids keep fighting, and they’ve learned how to win.”

Orndoff said the atmosphere was a welcome change after three consecutive road games.

“These fans, you can tell there’s a difference,” he said. “It’s another level that coach Narduzzi gets. You can see him pumping up the crowd, we feed off that, they feed off that, it’s a great feeling.”

Pitt next travels to Georgia Tech (2-3, 0-2 ACC) on Oct. 17. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m.