The Pitt Panthers Triumphed Over the Kent State Golden Flashes 55 to 24

Tagged under: Gameday Hub, Pennsylvania Colleges, pfn

Ryan Thielet | August 31, 2024

On Saturday, the Pitt Panthers secured a dominant 31-point victory over the Kent State Golden Flashes. This game was significant for two reasons: it marked Offensive Coordinator Kade Bell’s debut at the FBS level and his first game with Pitt, and it was Eli Holstein’s first college football start. It would be an understatement to say it went well, as he and the offense clicked on all cylinders, leading to a commanding 55-24 win.

The Panthers’ offense started the game on their five-yard line after a holding call on the opening kickoff. Enter redshirt freshman Eli Holstein, who led an impressive 95-yard drive in nine plays, capped off by an 11-yard touchdown pass to Konata Mumpfield. This put Pitt ahead 7-0 with 11:56 left in the first quarter.

The Golden Flashes’ offense struggled on their first drive, going three-and-out. On the ensuing punt return, Desmond Reid showcased his speed and toughness, returning the ball 78 yards for a touchdown to extend the Panthers’ lead to 14-0 with 10:15 remaining in the first quarter.

Down by two touchdowns, the Golden Flashes responded with a scoring drive of their own. Quarterback Devin Kargman connected with receiver Luke Floriea over the middle of the field for a touchdown, narrowing the score to 14-7 with 6:43 left in the first quarter. That would be the last scoring drive of the quarter, as both offenses were held in check, leaving the score at 14-7 in favor of the Panthers.

Like in the first quarter, the Panthers started the second quarter with the ball. After a 13-play drive and a crucial targeting penalty against Kent State, running back Derrick Davis Jr. ran it in from two yards out, extending Pitt’s lead to 21-7. The Golden Flashes struggled on their next drive, going three-and-out once again and giving the ball back to the Panthers with 10:58 remaining in the half.

The Panthers continued their offensive momentum, with Eli Holstein connecting with Raphel Williams Jr. on a 7-yard touchdown pass to push the score to 28-7 with 7:50 left in the first half. Kent State finally got on the board again, but not with their offense; their special teams forced a fumble and scored on the recovery, narrowing the gap to 28-14 with 5:28 left in the half.

Despite an interception thrown by Holstein the defense stepped up and kept the score at 28-14 in favor of Pitt going into halftime. Eli Holstein led all passers at the half with a stat line of 23 completions on 30 attempts for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

In the third quarter, they started quickly with four straight scores. The Golden Flashes began the second half by driving down the field in 11 plays, capping it off with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christon Mccray, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 28-21 with 9:36 left in the quarter.

The Panthers responded immediately with a 46-yard burst of speed from Desmond Reid extending their lead to 35-21. Kent State answered with a field goal of their own, making the score 35-24. Pitt then drove down the field again and scored another touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Eli Holstein to Kenny Johnson, pushing the score to 42-24 in favor of Pitt.

The Golden Flashes got the ball back and held possession as the game moved into the fourth quarter, ending the third quarter with Pitt leading 42-24.

After the Panther fans sang “Sweet Caroline,” the defense stepped up and stopped the Golden Flashes’ offense, giving the ball back to Pitt. The Panthers capitalized with another field goal, this time a 50-yard kick by Ben Sauls, extending their lead to 45-24 with 11:52 left in the game.

Kent State went three-and-out on their next drive, handing the ball back to a hot Pitt offense. With Nate Yarnell now in at quarterback, he immediately made an impact, throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Raphel Williams Jr., making the score 52-24 in Pitt’s favor. The Golden quickly regained possession, but Pitt’s defense stuffed the Golden Flashes on their next drive. Pitt added one more score in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard field goal from Ben Sauls making the final score 55-24 in the Panthers’ favor.

This was a significant morale boost for the Panthers, as it kicked off their season on a high note. Several players had standout performances, including redshirt freshman Eli Holstein, who went 30 for 40 with one interception, three total touchdowns, and an impressive 336 passing yards. Desmond Reid also had a great day, showcasing the explosiveness that Coach Narduzzi has been talking about in the offseason.

On the defensive side, Kyle Louis had an impressive performance with 10 total tackles and one sack. This game was also a promising stepping stone for Coach Kade Bell, as it provided a glimpse of what his offensive scheme is capable of and gave fans plenty to look forward to.

Looking ahead, Pitt hopes to keep their winning streak alive as they prepare to head to Cincinnati, a place they haven’t visited since their Big East days, to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats.

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