Pitt Wraps Up First 10-Win Season Since 1981, Beat Syracuse 31-14
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw for four touchdowns to break the Pittsburgh school record for scoring passes in a season, and the 20th-ranked Panthers beat Syracuse 31-14 on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh (10-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, CFP No. 20) won its fourth straight and finished the regular season 5-0 on the road. It's the Panthers' first 10-win season since 1981.
Pickett connected with tailback Rodney Hammond Jr. and wideout Jordan Addison in the second quarter. He hit tight end Gavin Bartholomew and Addison again in the third to stake the Panthers to a 28-7 lead.
Pickett boosted his season total to 40 touchdown passes, three more than the previous record set by Dan Marino in 1981 and matched by Rod Rutherford in 2003, and his career total to 79, equaling Marino's mark. Pickett finished 28 of 38 for 209 yards with one interception.
Syracuse closed within 28-14 on Garrett Shrader's second touchdown pass of the game to Courtney Jackson late in the third, but the Orange offense struggled all night. Shrader finished 17 of 24 for 217 yards and was sacked six times.
Syracuse (5-7, 2-6) was coming off a pair of lopsided losses and failed in its quest to reach the six victories required to play in the postseason. It's the fifth losing season in coach Dino Babers' six years.
The Panthers clinched the ACC Coastal Division last week with a 48-38 win over Virginia and were hoping to keep building momentum heading into their second appearance in the conference title game, something they failed to do in 2018. Pitt wrapped up the division that year with a win at Wake Forest, then headed to Miami and was drilled by the Hurricanes. A 42-10 loss to eventual national champion Clemson followed.
The Panthers stayed on track against the fired-up Orange, who took a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter and held Pitt in check until early in the second.
Led by Sean Tucker and Shrader, Syracuse entered the game leading the ACC in rushing with an average of 230 yards per game, and they were facing the conference's top defense against the run. Pitt, allowing just under 100 per game, held the Orange's imposing duo to 22 yards on 21 carries in the first half and 27 yards on 29 carries for the game. Syracuse finished with a season-low 25 yards rushing.
Tucker, third nationally with 1,467 yards and averaging 6.3 yards per carry entering the game, finished with 29 yards on 13 carries.
Syracuse scored on the game's first possession, driving 75 yards in 14 plays that took 7:25 off the clock. Shrader completed four passes, hitting Devaughn Cooper for 8 yards on fourth-and-3 from the Pitt 21, and following with a 12-yard touchdown toss to Jackson.
The Panthers got rolling early in the second quarter and scored twice. Hammond sparked the surge, reeling off six carries for 19 yards before scoring on a 15-yard catch-and-run.
Pitt gained a 14-7 lead just over two minutes later, taking advantage of a Syracuse turnover. Cooper fumbled near midfield and SirVocea Dennis recovered. Pickett then hit Addison for a 25-yard TD.
Pickett hit Bartholomew on a 4-yard toss and Addison with a 5-yarder, and Sam Scarton added a 26-yard field goal midway through the fourth.
SLOW START
Pitt, which entered the game with the No. 3 scoring offense in the nation, had zero first downs and 21 yards on offense in the first quarter. Addison's first two receptions netted minus-2 yards. He entered the game with 1,272 receiving yards, the most among Power Five receivers.
IRON MAN
Syracuse center Airon Servais started his 60th straight game, one of three players to do so at the FBS level this week.
THE TAKEAWAY
Pittsburgh: The Panthers are on cruise control heading to the ACC title game with Pickett in top form and the defense thriving.
Syracuse: Tucker has said he plans on returning next season but indicated a coaching change might alter his plans.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: Plays Wake Forest for the ACC championship next Saturday.
Syracuse: Season over.
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