Pitt notebook: Replay review doesn't support Panthers' fumble recoveries

Pitt’s defense appeared to force three fumbles in its 31-30 overtime loss to Boston College, but only two ended up changing possession of the football.

Coach Pat Narduzzi calmly discussed those two potentially game-changing plays, but he clearly didn’t agree with them.

“I thought both of them were fumbles,” he said.

Because the plays were not ruled that way, Boston College was able to kick a field goal and score a touchdown in its one-point victory.

In the first quarter, sophomore outside linebacker SirVocea Dennis, who will be difficult to keep out of the starting lineup going forward, forced a fumble from running back David Bailey. Dennis recovered the ball on the Pitt 10-yard line. Replay overturned the call and Aaron Boumerhi ended up kicking a field goal for Boston College.

In the second quarter, linebacker Phil Campbell appeared – the key word – to force a fumble from running back Patrick Garwo and recover it. Officials did not rule a fumble, Pitt challenged and the call was upheld on review. Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec then scored on a 2-yard sneak.

“The second one, I didn’t think it was a doubt (it was a fumble),” Narduzzi said. “I don’t know how they overturned the first one. I didn’t think there was video evidence.

“But coaches will coach and officials will officiate. But (we) seem to be getting beat in the booth.

“Great job by our defense ripping the ball out and giving us a chance. But replay saw it a different way.”

`Kenny’s my guy’

Pitt only committed six penalties for 46 yards after getting charged with 13 for 125 the week before.

One of them cost Pitt yardage in the second quarter, but it was an intriguing display of loyalty.

Boston College linebacker Isaiah McDuffie was called for a late hit on quarterback Kenny Pickett as he ran out of bounds at the Pitt 43. Jimmy Morrissey, an All-ACC center playing guard for the first time, responded by running at McDuffie, but he did not make violent contact. Some of Morrissey’s teammates joined him, and the result was offsetting 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalties on both teams.

“It was a dirty play,” Morrissey said of the McDuffie penalty. “I made sure my reaction wasn’t going to be penalized. They called it on the (Pitt) offense.

“Maybe I should have been smarter, but Kenny’s my guy and I’ll protect him at all costs.”

Line reconfiguration

Pitt made a major change in its offensive line, inserting Owen Drexel at center and moving Morrissey to right guard to replace Jake Kradel (Butler).

“We felt like that was our top five,” Narduzzi said. “Kradel got a little banged up in practice on a freak play. He probably could have gone. He said, `Coach, I can go.’ ”

But Narduzzi didn’t want to make the undisclosed injury worse, and Drexel has been practicing well all season. He deserved a chance to start.

“I expect (Kradel) to be ready next week,” the coach said. “I didn’t want to risk putting him out there.

“I thought the offensive line did a solid job with that in mind. (Morrissey) did a heckuva job in there and so did Owen Drexel.”

Morrissey said he was OK with the switch. He hadn’t played guard regularly since his freshman year in high school, other than a few spring snaps on a few days in 2016.

Notable

Dennis led Pitt with 11 tackles, 4 ½ for a loss, in his first start at outside linebacker. … After catching seven passes in each of the first three games, freshman wide receiver Jordan Addison was injured and held to two against N.C. State. He was back to seven Saturday, giving him a team-leading total of 30. Meanwhile, D.J. Turner went from eight to only one against BC. … For the third consecutive game and fourth time overall, Pitt’s leading rusher gained fewer than 50 yards. Vincent Davis had 46 on 17 carries.