By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/Sabri Haidar- The Mojo Network)
Pittsburgh walked into Bobby Dodd Stadium on Saturday with nothing to lose and everything to gain, and the Panthers delivered one of their most complete performances of the season. By the end of the night, Pitt had strengthened its push toward the ACC title game with a 42 to 28 upset over twelfth ranked Georgia Tech.
Pitt, now 8 and 3 overall and 6 and 1 in the conference, set the tone immediately with a blistering 28 to 0 start. The Panthers scored touchdowns on four of their first five possessions and controlled the tempo long enough to silence the home crowd. Georgia Tech made a late charge and trimmed the deficit to one score with four minutes remaining, but a final Panthers surge shut the door.
Freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel played with poise throughout the night, completing 20 of 27 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns. He added another score on the ground and rarely looked rattled in a hostile environment. Ja’Kyrian Turner delivered the game’s biggest punches with 186 rushing yards on 20 carries, highlighted by a 56 yard burst with just over two minutes left that sealed the victory.
Kenny Johnson led the receiving group with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, while the defense produced a defining moment in the third quarter. Braylan Lovelace jumped a route, took an interception back 100 yards and swung the momentum back to Pitt after Georgia Tech had begun to settle into the game.
The Yellow Jackets entered the matchup with a chance to secure their first ACC championship appearance since 2014, but the slow start proved too steep to overcome. Haynes King completed 27 of 41 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, yet his two interceptions stalled drives when Georgia Tech needed points. The second miscue was the turning point, as Lovelace returned it the length of the field for a decisive defensive touchdown.
Georgia Tech’s late push showed resilience, but Pitt’s early dominance paired with timely big plays sent the Panthers home with a statement win and handed the Yellow Jackets a costly setback in the conference race.