Panthers Bounce Back In Record-Setting 77-7 Win Over New Hampshire
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns and ran for another in just over a half of work and Pittsburgh finished up nonconference play by drilling New Hampshire 77-7 on Saturday.
A week after a stunning upset loss at home to Western Michigan, Pitt (3-1) bounced back by pouncing quickly on the overmatched Wildcats (3-1). Pickett led the way, completing 24 of 28 passes while pushing his touchdown pass total to 15 on the season, two more than he had in 2020. Pickett's 1-yard fourth-down scoring plunge gave him 17 career rushing scores, the most ever by a quarterback in school history.
Jordan Addison caught six passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns for Pitt. The Panthers piled up a school record 707 yards of total offense and scored on 10 of their first 11 drives. Pitt's 77 points were the program's most in a game since 1926 when the Panthers beat Westminster 88-0.
New Hampshire, ranked 22nd in the Football Championship Subdivision, saw any hopes of the school's first win over a Power Five program in 15 years evaporate after falling behind by four touchdowns in the game's first 14 minutes.
The Wildcats allowed a safety on their opening possession and saw its second end by having Pitt's Damarri Mathis step in front of a pass by Bret Edwards and return it 35 yards for a touchdown that made it 14-0 before the game was 5 minutes old. The Panthers' missed the PAT kick after that touchdown and after Pickett's earlier 1-yard score.
Edwards spent most of the afternoon under heavy duress, completing 9 of 20 for 42 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Carlos Washington Jr. ran for 91 yards for the Wildcats, who received $425,000 to travel to Heinz Field.
THE TAKEAWAY
New Hampshire: The real season for the Wildcats begins next week. While the program's best start since 2009 came to a halt, New Hampshire
Pitt: No score total could wipe out the defensive meltdown against Western Michigan. However, the Panthers wasted little time dominating an opponent it was expected to dominate.
UP NEXT
New Hampshire: Host FCS power and Colonial Athletic Association rival James Madison next weekend.
Pittsburgh: The Panthers open Atlantic Coast Conference play next Saturday at Georgia Tech. Pitt has won each of its last three meetings with the Yellow Jackets.
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