Mason Heintschel overcomes mistakes, Desmond Reid's return lifts Pitt to upset over No. 25 FSU

Mason Heintschel didn’t look much like a freshman in his first collegiate start last weekend, leading Pitt to a blowout win over Boston College.

The same could not be said of Heintschel on Saturday, as he threw two interceptions and fumbled twice with the Panthers aiming for an upset of No. 25 Florida State at Doak S. Campbell Field in Tallahassee, Fla.

But Pitt’s freshman quarterback overcame those miscues, helping lead his team to a 34-31 defeat of FSU thanks largely to tailback Desmond Reid’s return after he missed nearly a month because of injury.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids, the way they fought,” coach Pat Narduzzi said on the 93.7 FM postgame show. “The score kept going back and forth, but our kids kept fighting. We talked about, for six weeks now, finishing. That’s how you finish.”

The Panthers (4-2, 2-1 ACC) trailed 21-14 at halftime, but with 2 minutes, 29 seconds to play they pulled ahead 34-24.

Things stayed interesting, however, as quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Micahi Danzy only 37 seconds later for the Seminoles (3-3, 0-3 ACC).

With their lead trimmed to 34-31, Pitt recovered an onside kick and ran the clock out to preserve the win.

Heintschel finished 21 of 29 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both of his fumbles, including in the red zone with less than four minutes to play, were recovered by the Panthers.

QB1 ????@mason_heinch06 was on fire today as he completed 21-29 passes for 321 YDs and 2 TDs as he led Pitt to a road win over Florida State@Pitt_FB | @Pitt_ATHLETICS | #H2P | @DrPepper pic.twitter.com/649uFkVD4W

— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) October 11, 2025

Reid added 200 all-purpose yards and caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, with receptions of 24, 50 and 35 yards.

“We’re obviously a different offense when Des is out there,” Narduzzi told reporters postgame. “ … (Interceptions) are going to happen with a young quarterback. They’re going to happen with an old quarterback — 10-year vets are throwing picks like that. He’s a football player, and he didn’t lose any faith. … He fought back and didn’t care.”

Defensively, Pitt played without ends Blaine Spires and Zach Crothers, as well as safety Cruce Brookins, but it was stout when it mattered, allowing 10 second-half points.

In total, Pitt put up 476 yards of offense compared to FSU’s 415.

Pitt started hot and aggressive, converting three fourth-down tries on its opening possession to go up 7-0 with 6:55 remaining in the first quarter.

Ja’Kyrian Turner’s touchdown run from 4 yards capped a 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive that consumed 8:05.

“That’s demoralizing to a defense when you can do that,” Narduzzi said of Pitt’s long first drive. “Our guys just executed. It comes down to details, focus and execution.”

After Florida State countered with a touchdown about four minutes later, Pitt took a 14-7 lead 34 seconds into the second quarter, with Heintschel finding Reid for a 24-yard touchdown pass.

Mason with a touchdown strike to Dez ????

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Pitt 14, Florida State 7 pic.twitter.com/qgxJck1ZX3

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 11, 2025

With 4:20 left before halftime, Florida State tied the score 14-14 on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Castellanos to Danzy.

Castellanos had fumbled at midfield, which FSU recovered, while tailback Gavin Sawchuk converted a third-and-10 with a 16-yard reception to set up the Seminoles’ strike to Danzy.

Danzy led Florida State with seven catches, 133 yards and two touchdown receptions, and Castellanos went 16 of 23 for 245 yards and three touchdowns.

After FSU tied the score in the second quarter, Heintschel committed his first major error of the afternoon, trying to squeeze in a deep ball to a double-covered Blue Hicks while scrambling.

However, Earl Little’s interception didn’t lead to any points for the Seminoles as the defense held firm, stopping Florida State before Josh Guerrier blocked a punt at the 16-yard line.

But only three plays later, Heintschel erred again, throwing another interception, this time to Edwin Joseph, who recorded his pick in the end zone.

This time, Florida State put points on the board, as Castellanos escaped a collapsing pocket to find Landen Thomas for a 25-yard touchdown with 6 seconds left in the half to go up 21-14.

Reid gouged the Florida State defense through the air on Pitt’s opening drive of the third quarter, moving the Panthers 50 yards upfield to the Seminoles’ 31 on a reception from Heintschel.

The two connected four plays later for a 16-yard score, as Heintschel avoided a sack, scrambled and found a wide-open Reid in the end zone for the latter’s second receiving touchdown of the game.

With 10:15 remaining in the third quarter, the Panthers and Seminoles were tied 21-21.

Tied up‼️

Heintschel extends the play and hits Reid for his second receiving TD of the day.

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Pitt 21, Florida State 21 pic.twitter.com/P3AlB1Bz2K

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) October 11, 2025

Florida State took a 24-21 lead at the 5:41 mark of the third quarter on a 34-yard field goal by Jake Weinberg.

As the third quarter flipped to the fourth, Florida State was finding success on the ground, running the ball on nine straight plays.

But on the Seminoles’ 10th attempt, Pitt’s Shadarian Harrison forced Caziah Holmes to fumble at midfield, and Jahsear Whittington recovered it for the Panthers’ first generated turnover.

“That’s a great recovery by Jahsear Whittington, the bread man,” Narduzzi said.

On Pitt’s first play, a slant by Reid turned into a 35-yard gain to Florida State’s 14-yard line.

The Panthers settled for a 28-yard Trey Butkowski field goal, tying the score 24-24 with 11:38 to play.

After Pitt’s defense forced a quick three-and-out of FSU, a 42-yard completion from Heintschel to Kenny Johnson set up a 34-yard Butkowski field goal, putting the Panthers back in front 27-24 with 7:15 remaining.

Florida State went three-and-out again on its ensuing possession, giving Pitt a chance to solidify its fourth-quarter lead.

Despite a tense moment when Heintschel fumbled at the FSU 24-yard line after a 30-yard rush, Pitt scored as Turner ran in from 4 yards to cap an eight-play, 73-yard touchdown drive. Turner, who recovered Heintschel’s fumble, put the Panthers up 34-24 with 2:28 left. He finished with 10 rushes for 44 yards and had four catches for 34 yards, with two touchdowns.

Kyle Louis recovered Florida State’s onside kick attempt after FSU’s rapid-response touchdown, and an offside penalty on the Seminoles on third down allowed Pitt to ice the game.

“It’s hard to win on the road,” Narduzzi said. “Our kids deserve it. They’ve fought all year. We’ve been in some tough ones, and we’re (not) far from being an undefeated football team. I think we’ve got one heck of a football team.”