Sports

Pickett And Pitt Panthers Keep Rolling, Blast Georgia Tech 52-21

October 2, 2021 / 6:24 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

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ATLANTA (AP) — Kenny Pickett passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday, and Pittsburgh dominated Georgia Tech 52-21.

Pitt (4-1, 1-0 ACC) intercepted the first two passes by Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims, with linebacker John Petrishen returning the second 33 yards for a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 42-14 lead by halftime.

Tech (2-3, 1-2) moved the ball effectively on a couple drives in the first half, but failed to convert any of its five third-down tries and misfired on two fourth downs in that time.

Pickett was methodical in completing 23-of-36 passes. On the season, he has passed for 19 touchdowns with just one interception, which wasn't made by Georgia Tech. Pitt has scored at least 41 points in each of its five games, the first such streak in program history. The Panthers are averaging 52.4 points per contest.

Pickett left the game with five minutes remaining, and the Panthers running out the clock.

Sims returned to a starting role Saturday, and had some success while completing 23-of-32 passes for 342 yards and two scores. The Jackets mustered little on the ground, however, and leading rusher Jahmyr Gibbs carried 10 times for minus-10 yards. Tech rushed for just 73 yards.

Eleven Pitt players caught at least one pass and wide receiver Jordan Addison (six receptions, 117 yards, one touchdown) and Taysir Mack (five receptions, 121 yards, one touchdown) had big days.

THE TAKEAWAY

Pittsburgh: The Panthers buttoned up their play calling for the final quarter-plus, and still managed to total 580 yards with the help of 181 rushing yards.

Georgia Tech: The Jackets hardly looked like the team that upset North Carolina a week earlier in a game with eight sacks. They had one against Pitt.

UP NEXT

Pittsburgh: The Panthers will be idle next week before playing at Virginia Tech on Oct. 16.

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets play at Duke next Saturday.