Field Level Media
Sep 14, 2019
True freshman Devyn Ford and Noah Cain each rushed for one touchdown to lift No. 13 Penn State past visiting Pittsburgh 17-10 on Saturday in University Park, Pa., in the 100th meeting between the programs.
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford was 14 of 30 for 222 yards as the Nittany Lions improved to 3-0.
Pittsburgh was anchored by quarterback Kenny Pickett, who set a career-high for completions with 35 while posting 51 attempts. Pickett finished with 372 yards while wide receiver Taysir Mack had 12 catches for 125 yards for the Panthers (1-2).
The Nittany Lions struck first for a 7-0 lead when Ford plunged in from the 1 with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter. The score was set by an 85-yard run from Journey Brown, who finished with 109 yards on 10 carries.
Pitt scored the next 10 points -- a 25-yard field goal by Alex Kessman and a 3-yard run by Vincent Davis -- to take a 10-7 advantage with 2:08 left in the second quarter. Davis' score capped an eight-play, 78-yard drive.
Penn State's Jordan Stout set a school record with a 57-yard field goal with one second remaining in the first half to even the game at 10. Chris Bahr held the previous mark of 55 yards set in 1975.
The Nittany Lions received the opening kickoff of the second half and proceeded on a 13-play, 88-yard drive that ended with Cain's 13-yard run for a 17-10 lead.
After a strong start, Pitt's offense sputtered through much of the third quarter, and its offensive line struggled to protect Pickett.
The Panthers eventually reversed that trend and began to march downfield all the way to the Penn State 1. But they failed to score a touchdown on three straight plays from the 1 before Kessman's 19-yard field goal attempt clanged on the left upright with 4:54 remaining.
Penn State wasn't able to run out the clock and the Panthers had one final possession late in the game.
Pitt reached the Penn State 26 before Pickett heaved a pass into the end zone as time expired, but the ball was knocked down.
No further games are scheduled between the state rivals.
--Field Level Media