Ferguson’s big night helps Pitt cruise past Georgia Tech

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Peyton Celesti | November 1, 2026

Since the season-ending ACL injury to Pitt’s star Quarterback Mason Heinschel, the Panthers’ season has seemed to be falling apart over the last three weeks. But heading into the bye week, Pitt (6-3, 3-3) has some optimism to finish strong after a dominant 34-11 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. 

A close home game three weeks ago against North Carolina gave the Panthers their first loss of the season because of critical turnovers, despite beating the Tar Heels in most statistical categories. Then a rather embarrassing loss to a below-average Boston College team, in which Pitt’s defense committed a lot of penalties and got gashed in the air, was followed by a blowout loss to #1 Miami. 

But the Pitt defense seemed to come out with something to prove, holding the Georgia Tech passing attack to 143 yards on the night – with a lot of those yards coming in garbage time in the fourth quarter with the Panthers well ahead. As for the Pitt offense, freshman running back Damon Ferguson had a breakout game, running for 185 yards on 31 carries. 

“He’s a beast,” Head Coach Pat Narduzzi said about Ferguson. “There’s no better way to protect your quarterback than by having a running game.”

While offensive coordinator Kade Bell typically likes to air it out, the tide certainly seems to be turning toward the run game each week as the Panthers have alternated between fifth-year quarterback Holden Geriner and true freshman Corey Dailey. 

Geriner started tonight and went 13-for-30 for 180 yards and a touchdown, earning his first career win as a collegiate starting quarterback. 

“He’s getting better,” Narduzzi said. “I wish he would’ve been able to make some of those throws [he missed] in the red zone.”

Pat Narduzzi Postgame press conference after the 34-11 win over Georgia Tech
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— Peyton Celesti (@PiratePeyton) November 1, 2026

Narduzzi specifically cited missed opportunities for his offense, as three separate drives ended inside the five and produced only three points.

In the first half, Carson Kent fumbled a ball in the end zone, and it was recovered for a touchback. In the second half, La’Velle Wright was stuffed short of the goal line three times before Pitt settled for a field goal, and the Panthers couldn’t punch in a first-and-goal at the half-yard line, resulting in a turnover on downs. 

But Pitt’s defense consistently got the ball back quickly for their offense throughout the night. After that turnover on downs early in the fourth quarter, a three-and-out and a short punt from Georgia Tech in their own end zone set the Panthers up at the Yellow Jackets’ 30-yard line. 

Geriner then connected with Blue Hicks for a 30-yard receiving touchdown, Pitt’s first second-half touchdown, on a go route to go up 27-3 and put the game out of reach. 

Pitt’s defense focused this week on getting off the field in short-conversion situations on 3rd and fourth down. All in all, Georgia Tech was 3-for-18 on third down and 1-for-5 on fourth down.

“Focusing on the details,” Narduzzi said was the key to his defense’s success this week. “It [helped that it] wasn’t [Miami Wide Receiver] Malachi Toney out there.” 

Quarterback Alberto Mendoza was under duress all game, getting sacked five times and fumbling four times, losing only one of those fumbles. Sophomore quarterback Grady Adamson replaced Mendoza in the fourth quarter.  

“We just have to stay level-headed,” senior defensive back Raion Strader said about what the secondary has learned this year. “Leave out all of the noise and focus on the next play. We’re confident guys and we’re ball players at the end of the day.” 

Raion Strader after a big game from the Pitt defense against Georgia Tech
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— Peyton Celesti (@PiratePeyton) November 1, 2026

Although the win gave Pitt bowl eligibility for the third straight season and the ninth time during Pat Narduzzi’s 12-year tenure, that’s expected every year from Narduzzi’s team, and their sights are set on ending the season on a better note than the last two years. 

Last season, Pitt lost three of its final four games, including the Military Bowl against East Carolina, and the year prior finished the season on a six-game losing streak after starting 7-0. 

“I couldn’t care less about being bowl eligible,” Narduzzi said. “It’s not our goal at all.” 

Pitt will look to get fresh during the upcoming bye week before what Pat Narduzzi called the “fourth quarter” of Pitt’s season, playing at home against Florida State on Friday, Nov. 13, and closing out the regular season on the road at Louisville and Cal.