Pitt loses quarterback Kedon Slovis and game to Tennessee in OT

On a day full of emotions of many colors — sad, frustrating, even hopeful — Pitt defensive end Habakkuk Baldonado offered among the wisest of words after the 34-27 overtime loss to Tennessee on Saturday.

“Everybody says, sometimes you win. Sometimes you learn,” the senior from Rome, Italy, said, philosophizing after a rough day in the trenches. “(Saturday) was a day where we had to learn.”

The No. 17 Panthers (1-1), seeking further national recognition in their second consecutive game against a Power 5 opponent, lost an early 10-0 lead, fell behind and rallied late to force overtime in front of a crowd of 59,785. Ultimately, however, Pitt couldn’t stop Volunteers quarterback Hendon Hooker, whose second touchdown pass — 28 yards to Cedric Tillman in overtime — was the blow Pitt could not survive. The No. 24 Volunteers improved to 2-0

“We came out at halftime (trailing, 24-17, and insisting), ‘We’re going to win this game,’ ” tight end Gavin Bartholomew said. “We had that mentality. It just didn’t come our way.”

The day was difficult for offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti Jr., who was told 4½ hours before game time — while going into a team meeting — that his father, legendary coach Frank Cignetti Sr., had died at age 84.

“This is the game of football. There are so many other games in life,” coach Pat Narduzzi said after the game, nearly overcome with emotion. “Sacrifice that he made sitting here. There was no doubt he was going to coach the game. Our prayers go to the family. Just a sad, sad deal. Tough for him.”

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Pain of another sort struck two Pitt quarterbacks.

Late in the first half, starter Kedon Slovis suffered an injury while getting sacked — one of four by the Volunteers — and did not return. After the game, Narduzzi declined to identify specifics of the injury.

In the fourth quarter, backup Nick Patti hurt his foot — also while getting sacked — but was able to continue, albeit while limping through the game’s critical moments.

“There were some plays you see he could hardly walk,” Bartholomew said. “Shout out to him for fighting through it.”

Patti completed nine of 20 attempts for 79 yards, but his fourth-down touchdown pass to wide receiver Jared Wayne with 2 minutes, 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter forced overtime.

Narduzzi said he thought about opting for the 2-point conversion but quickly decided against it.

“Thought about it. Just thoughts,” he said. “Let’s get down in the red zone and go. Let’s go to overtime.

“I don’t think it was a hard decision at all. You want to take it to overtime. You don’t want to lose the game right there.”

Earlier, Patti nearly scored to tie the score, diving into the end zone’s right pylon (a play similar to his touchdown in the Peach Bowl eight months ago when he broke his collarbone). This time, he appeared to score, but the play was nullified when Wayne was caught holding.

Neither team seized control of a game Narduzzi described as “back and forth.”

Pitt led 10-0 and 17-7 in the first half on remarkable individual efforts by running back Izzy Abanikanda and Bartholomew.

Six minutes into the game, Abanikanda ran 76 yards, through a huge hole in the Tennessee defense, outrunning several Volunteers into the end zone.

In the second quarter, Bartholomew hurdled — he never ran track in high school — Tennessee safety Trevon Flowers on his way to a 57-yard catch-and-run touchdown.

“It happened so fast,” he said. “I just knew he was going to duck. (I said), ‘Screw it, I’m jumping him.’ ”

Overall, Pitt’s offense couldn’t take advantage of a blocked punt by backup safety P.J. O’Brien, who retrieved the ball and might have scored on his own, but teammate Solomon DeShields bumped him out of bounds at the Tennessee 19. Pitt could get no points from the big special teams play when Ben Sauls missed a 36-yard field goal, his second of the game.

“Those are big,” Narduzzi said.

Despite the misses (Sauls also made two), Pitt was in position to win because its defense held Tennessee to three points after halftime, a 51-yard field goal by Chase McGrath.

“I don’t know if anyone will match what we did,” Narduzzi said of holding the Vols to 150 yards in the second half.

In the end, Pitt’s players realize there are 10 more opportunities to make amends this season. Hope remains alive.

“There were some things we could have done better,” Bartholomew said. “Game’s in the past. We’re worried about next week.”