The Pitt Panthers will take the 107 Backyard Brawl win Over the West Virginia Mountaineers 38 to 34

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Ryan Thielet | September 15, 2024

This year’s Backyard Brawl lived up to its name and the hype, with both teams battling fiercely for all four quarters. The game saw six lead changes, ending with Pitt securing the win through a game-sealing interception.

The West Virginia Mountaineers won the coin toss in the first quarter and elected to receive. However, their opening drive lasted only six plays as the Pitt defense quickly stepped up to force an early stop. Pitt’s first offensive drive also stalled, going three-and-out. On their next possession, the Mountaineers drew blood first, with Garrett Greene completing a 10-yard touchdown pass to CJ Donaldson Jr., putting WVU up 7-0 with 7:58 left in the first quarter.

Pitt responded with a 31-yard field goal by Ben Sauls, narrowing the score to 7-3 with 6:00 remaining. After the field goal, WVU went three-and-out, handing the ball back to Pitt with 4:29 left in the first. The Panthers took advantage, marching down the field and capping the drive with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to Reid, giving Pitt a 10-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.

WVU started the second quarter with possession and quickly struck again with a 5-yard touchdown run by Jahiem White, reclaiming the lead at 14-10 with 11:54 remaining in the first half. The Panthers wasted no time, answering with another touchdown. This score came from a Holstein-to-Reid connection, putting Pitt back on top, 17-14, with 7:01 left in the half.

After both offenses stalled on their next drives, WVU managed to tie the game with a 44-yard field goal by Michael Hayes II, bringing the score to 17-17 at the end of the first half.

The Panthers received the ball to start the second half, but their opening drive stalled, resulting in a quick three-and-out. WVU took over and began driving down the field before being forced to punt on 4th down. However, Pitt’s Maverick Gracio blocked the punt, and Brandon George scooped it up, returning it for a touchdown to give the Panthers a 24-17 lead with 8:27 left in the third quarter.

The Mountaineers were unfazed, responding on their next drive with a 4-yard touchdown run by CJ Donaldson Jr., tying the game at 24-24 with 4:48 remaining in the third. Neither team scored again in the quarter, as Pitt’s offense stalled, and WVU carried the ball into the fourth quarter with the game all tied up.

Carrying over from the third quarter, WVU opened the final period with a 23-yard field goal by Michael Hayes II, giving the Mountaineers a 27-24 lead with 11:19 left in the game. The Panthers failed to respond, going three-and-out and handing the ball back to WVU. The Mountaineers extended their lead to 34-24 after a controversial non-call on offensive pass interference, scoring a touchdown with 4:55 left.

Despite the setback, the Panthers mounted a furious comeback, scoring 14 points in the closing minutes. The first touchdown came from a 40-yard strike from Eli Holstein to Daejon Reynolds, cutting the deficit to 34-31 with 3:06 remaining. Pitt’s defense stepped up, quickly stopping the Mountaineers and returning possession to the red-hot Panthers with 1:59 left.

Pitt then executed a flawless two-minute drill, capped by a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Gateway’s own Derrick Davis Jr., giving them a 38-34 lead with just 32 seconds left. WVU attempted one last drive, but Garrett Greene’s pass was intercepted by Kyle Louis, sealing the game for Pitt with a final score of 38-34.

Yet another comeback win for the Panthers! After erasing a 27-point deficit last week, they again overcame a double-digit deficit to claim victory. Eli Holstein was outstanding, completing 21 of 30 passes for 301 yards and 3 touchdowns, while also rushing for 59 yards. Desmond Reid may not have put up big yardage, but he still contributed two crucial touchdowns.

This win is a huge morale boost for the confident Panthers. Now 3-0 on the season, they will look to keep their momentum going as they stay home next week to face the Youngstown State Penguins.

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