Pitt survives 2 more departures of its best players, still defeats Georgia Tech

When Pitt’s players, coaches and fans look back on the Panthers’ 34-20 victory against Georgia Tech on Thursday night, they’ll remember the game for its physicality.

Vincent Davis, all 5-foot-8, 175 pounds of him, ran for a remarkable 247 yards on 25 carries, 64 percent of his total in the previous 10 games.

“He ran like a big dog,” said coach Pat Narduzzi.

The victory also was Pitt’s third in its past four games, since the 45-3 loss to Notre Dame on Oct. 24. It allowed Pitt to finish with a winning record (6-5, 5-5 ACC) for the fourth time in Narduzzi’s six seasons and showed that, despite the frustrations, defeats and four players opting-out this season, Pitt was able to persevere.

Not necessarily succeed, considering the team lost five times. But the way Davis ran and how the much-maligned offensive line manhandled Georgia Tech’s defensive front and the rebuilt secondary picked off two passes proved something:

Pitt was able to show up to a road game at the end of a difficult season and win a conference game by two touchdowns. It certainly looks better than the alternative.

Center Jimmy Morrissey, a co-captain for the second consecutive season, admitted this wasn’t the season he expected.

“We had really high expectations of ourselves,” he said. “If you told me we would have this many losses, I would be in shock.

“It’s just the way it happened. Covid is not an excuse because everybody has to deal with it. It’s not the season we wanted.

“You can go back and make excuses and those two games we lost by one point, (quarterback) Kenny (Pickett) gets hurt (and missed two other games). It’s the game of football.”

The game also will be remembered for the two players who decided not to play for what was termed “personal reasons.” Defensive end Rashad Weaver and free safety/co-captain Damar Hamlin, two of Pitt’s senior leaders, decided prior to the game to opt-out, presumably to save themselves for the NFL. Weaver, especially, is expected to be a high draft choice.

They joined teammates and top NFL prospects Jaylen Twyman and Paris Ford, Twyman leaving in August and Ford after seven games.

Naruzzi said he had conversations with Weaver and Hamlin throughout the week leading into the game.

“I totally support those guys,” he said. “They had decisions they had to make for personal reasons. They did what they had to do. It gave other guys opportunities to go make plays.”

Indeed, that’s what happened on Georgia Tech’s first snap when Erick Hallett, who replaced Hamlin in the starting lineup, intercepted a pass from quarterback James Sims.

Weaver was second in the ACC in tackles for a loss after 10 games (14), but Pitt still had six against Georgia Tech, including three by defensive ends Deslin Alexandre and John Morgan, who can return in 2021.

Defensive end Patrick Jones II, who lined up opposite Weaver all season, led Pitt with seven tackles. He holds no ill will toward his teammates.

““It’s their decision. All you can do is respect them and support them,” he said. “They’re my brothers. I respect them no matter what they do.”

He said he never considered sitting out the game. “I was locked in. I kind of wanted to be there with my boys.”

He added he hasn’t thought about what he’d do if Pitt was invited to a bowl.

A bowl might give Pitt further means to polish its resumé. Georgia Tech did not present formidable opposition as it fell to 3-7, 3-6 in the ACC.

“Is it Clemson? No. It’s Georgia Tech,” Narduzzi said.

Pitt was in command from the beginning when Davis ran for 74 yards on the game’s first snap.

“Started fast, compared to what we did our last outing when we started really, really slow like a turtle,” Narduzzi said of the 52-17 loss to Clemson on Nov. 28. “We had our foot on the gas.”

Davis gained the game’s most important yards in the fourth quarter, rushing for 68 in the final series, including a 38-yard touchdown with two minutes left that ensured the victory.

But the same problems that plagued Pitt all season — red zone deficiencies – surfaced repeatedly throughout the night.

“Still kicked too many field goals in the red zone,” said Narduzzi of Alex Kessman’s 25, 27, 30 and 22-yarders.

But the coach was not inclined to apologize for the victory, considering Pitt had lost four in row earlier this season.

“Our guys hung together and grinded it out,” he said.

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