Pitt v. Notre Dame Running Diary

11:45: PITT DEFEATS NO. 23 NOTRE DAME, 28-21. 

11:43: Bennett rushes twice for a first down and Pitt is in the victory formation, under a minute to go here at Heinz Field. 

11:41: Anthony Gonzalez breaks up a pass from Rees intended for Daniels on the sidelines, and Pitt takes over on downs at its own 38 with 2:26 to play and a 28-21 lead. Notre Dame is out of timeouts.

11:39: An intentional grounding penalty moves the Irish back to 3rd & 10, on which Rees throws incomplete. Kelly calls his final timeout of the game, Irish face 4th & 10 from the Pitt 38 with 2:33 to play.

11:36: Notre Dame enters Pitt’s territory after a 11-yard completion to Koyack and a 15-yard facemask penalty called on Shane Gordon. Irish to the Pitt 38.

11:33: Savage pressured, stuffed at the 32 on 3rd & 13. Yoklic’s punt travels 45 yards to the Notre Dame 23. Pitt leads 28-21, roughly four minutes to play at Heinz Field.

11:25: Pitt prevents Notre Dame from tying the game, punt goes for a touchback. 

11:13: TOUCHDOWN PITT. Savage completes to Holtz for nine yards after a false start backed Pitt up to the 10, and James Conner rams into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. Extra point goes through, Panthers lead 28-21 with 9:36 to play. Lead is the first of the game for Pitt.

11:08: Vinopal notches his second interception tonight, and returned the pick 40 yards to the Notre Dame 5. 

11:04: Pitt’s drive ends abruptly as Savage is sacked on third down and fumbles to set up a 4th & 16. Yoklic’s punt travels 40 yards, Notre Dame takes over at the Irish 24.

11:00: On the third play of the fourth quarter, Ray Vinopal intercepts Tommy Rees in the end zone to prevent a Notre Dame score. Pitt now out to the 50 after two completions to Tyler Boyd.

10:53: END OF THIRD QUARTER. PITT 21, NOTRE DAME 21. The Irish are threatening, have the ball on the Pitt 20. Panthers outscored Notre Dame 14-7 in the third quarter.

10:44: TOUCHDOWN PITT. Panthers gain a first down, and then go play-action and Savage finds Street downfield. Street kept his feet from a would-be tackler and sprinted down the sideline to the house. Game tied again, now at 21-21 with 2:12 left in the third quarter.

10:39: TOUCHDOWN NOTRE DAME. Notre Dame faked the run on first down, while T.J. Jones burned Williams over the top. Rees hit him in stride near midfield and Jones finished the play for a 80-yard touchdown. Notre Dame 21, Pitt 14.

10:35: TOUCHDOWN PITT. James Conner carries out of the Jumbo set with three fullbacks and a tight end on the field, fights his way into the end zone off the left side. Two-yard rush caps off a 13-play, 69-yard drive that lasted 6:18. Panthers and Irish tied at 14-14, 3:47 to play in the third. 

10:30: Pitt enters the red zone on a gratuitous defensive pass interference, and now has first and goal on the two after Savage found Boyd for nine yards. 4:06 to play, Pitt down 14-7.

10:24: Pitt crosses into Notre Dame territory on a four-yard completion from Savage to the tight end Scott Orndoff. Six-yard rush on the next play from Bennett moves the Panthers to the Irish 41.

10:18: Notre Dame punts back to Pitt after reaching its own 37. Downed at the Pitt 31, 10:05 to play in the third quarter. 

10:13: Pitt takes possession at the beginning of the half, but gets just one first down. Yoklic’s punt from the 29 travels 56 yards, Notre Dame ball at the Irish 16.

9:47: HALFTIME. Both teams head into the locker room with Notre Dame ahead 14-7. Pitt will receive to start the second half.

9:42 Brindza’s 46 yard punt is caught by Weatherspoon at Pitt’s 26 yard line. Pitt takes over with just over a minute left in the half. 

9:27 On third and one at Pitt’s goal line, Notre Dame’s Jones rushes for a one yard TOUCHDOWN. PAT by Brindza is GOOD. 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:05 off the clock. Notre Dame 14, Pitt 7.

9:20 Pitt once again, fails to advance the ball. Yoklic’s line drive punt goes 40 yards to Notre Dame’s 48 yard line, returned 13 yards by Jones to Pitt’s 39. 7:39 remaining in the half.

9:16 Rees pass complete to Jones, but fumbled at the 6 yard line. Fumble forced by Ray Vinopal and recovered by Lafayette Pitts. Pitt takes over.

9:14 George Atkinson rushes for 33 yards and a Notre Dame first down. Ball placed at Pitt’s 42. First and ten for Notre Dame.

9:09:  Savage’s three yard pass complete to Street for Pitt TOUCHDOWN. Blewitt PAT is GOOD. 10 plays, 71 yards, 5:14 comes off the clock. With 10:20 remaining in the first half, it’s Pitt 7, Notre Dame 7.

9:03 Stephon Tuitt is EJECTED for a violating the targeting rule while tackling Savage. Penalty puts the ball to Notre Dame’s 35 yard line. 

8:56 END OF FIRST QUARTER, Notre Dame 7, Pitt 0. Pitt faces a second and two at its 29 yard line.

8:49 Pitt goes three and out. Yoklic’s punt goes 48 yards for a touchback. With 2:32 remaining in the first, Notre Dame will take over at its own 20. 

8:47 Lafayette Pitts returns ensuing kickoff to the 50-yard line. First and ten for Pitt.

8:45 Rees 10-yard pass to Daniels for a TOUCHDOWN. Brindza PAT is GOOD. 9 plays, 83 yards, 3:29 off the clock, 7-0 Notre Dame. 

8:39 On third and two, receiver TJ Jones rushes for 35 yards to Pitt’s 40. First and ten.

8:34  Savage is hit as he attempts a pass to Isaac Bennett on third and two. Pass sails over Bennett’s head, bringing Matt Yoklic onto the field. Yoklic’s 37-yard punt is fair caught at Notre Dame’s 17. 7:10 remain in the first quarter.

8:29 Brindza misses his attempt at the longest field goal in Heinz Field history (55-yards). Pitt will take over at its own 38. 0-0 at the 8:09 mark.

8:22 On third and two, Isaac Bennett carries for a loss of two, bringing the punting team onto the field. Matt Yoklic kicks a 16-yard punt to the Notre Dame 29. 9:59 remaining in the first quarter.

8:18 For the second consecutive series, Tyler Boyd collects a Panther first down. This time, it comes via reverse handoff for a gain of eight to Pitt’s 49.

8:16 Darryl Render tips Tommy Rees’ pass on third and five, forcing a 49-yard punt by Kyle Brindza to the Pitt 25, where Pitt will set up shop. 

8:11: Notre Dame has won the coin toss. Notre Dame elects to receive.