Explosive gains, red zone efficiency becoming hallmarks of Mason Heintschel-led Pitt offense

Helping the offense to 53 points, putting up Pitt’s first 400-yard passing performance in four years and setting a program record for single-game yards through the air by a freshman are achievements Mason Heintschel deserves to celebrate.

However, the Panthers’ freshman quarterback wasn’t in the mood to pat himself on the back after leading his team — now 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the ACC — to a commanding 53-34 win over N.C. State.

“That’s great, but there were a lot of plays that we left out on the field,” Heintschel said. “There’s a lot of things we need to clean up and a lot of mistakes that I made personally that’s got to be fixed. Those are the things that we learn from, watch film and get better from and move on to next week.

“It’s great, the accolades and all that kind of stuff, but I just want to win. Coming out with the (win) is all that matters. We’ll move on to the next week.”

By the end of his fourth collegiate start, Heintschel had gone 28 of 48 (58%) through the air with 423 yards and three touchdowns.

Looking at those 20 incomplete passes, coach Pat Narduzzi has stressed to Heintschel that not every throw needs to be for a massive gain downfield.

Especially with how capable Pitt’s tailbacks are in the flat or as safety-valve options over the middle of the field.

“Take your check-downs,” Narduzzi said. “… You don’t have to throw a 50-yard pass. You can throw a 3-yard pass and get 50. I think that is something that is going to be a week-to-week growth out of him overall. … Just not trying to be the hero.”

That said, before the season started, Pitt’s offensive coaches and players spoke frequently about the need to generate more explosive plays.

Heintschel has had no difficulty doing so and, versus N.C. State alone, completed a pass of at least 15 yards to six different receivers.

No single play Saturday generated a bigger splash than Heintschel’s 84-yard touchdown connection to Blue Hicks in the third quarter, which tied for the fourth-longest catch in program history.

“We knew with the formation we were in, that we were going to get this kind of coverage,” Heintschel said of the play. “It was beautiful. I remember, right before we snapped the ball, I looked at the sideline at (coordinator Kade) Bell and thought, ‘This is beautiful. This should be a touchdown.’

“Blue does a great job of winning. We had great protection up front, and it just makes my job easy putting it up there and letting a guy who’s an absolute baller just go make a play.”

When Eli Holstein was starting, red zone efficiency was lacking at times for the Panthers, largely because of Holstein’s frequent interceptions in those situations.

Holstein, inserted into Saturday’s game against the Wolfpack late in the fourth quarter, ultimately threw an interception from the N.C. State 10-yard line on his lone passing attempt of the afternoon, giving him six picks on the year, five in the red zone.

But it’s been a far cleaner operation inside the 25-yard line with Heintschel, who has led Pitt to points on all but one trip to the red zone (23 of 24) over four games as starter.

With Heintschel under center, the Panthers were a perfect 7 of 7 in the red zone versus N.C. State, scoring four touchdowns and three field goals.

“You never get to the red zone if he doesn’t look good prior to that, right? You better be good to get to the red zone,” Narduzzi said. “It’s efficiency in the free-wheeling zone, middle of the field, whatever you want to call it. Then, working down into the red zone. Got to be efficient. … (Heintschel is) playing efficient football for the most part.”

Note: Heintschel was announced as ACC Rookie of the Week on Monday, earning the honor for the second time this season. Kenny Johnson was named the conference’s receiver of the week, catching seven passes for 112 yards and a score, all before halftime, as Johnson departed the game with an injury late in the second quarter. Since Week 6, Heintschel leads the ACC in yards (1,210), touchdowns and quarterback rating.