Pitt uses defense, running game to defeat Virginia Tech

Pitt players are changing the rules, and all it took was a victory against Virginia Tech, a 5-1 start to this season and, of course, the looming shadow of six-time defending ACC champion Clemson coming into Heinz Field next Saturday.

Much like many — if not all coaches — Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi has established a 24-hour rule after games. Win or lose, players have 24 hours to celebrate or sulk before it’s time to snap out of it and get ready for the next one.

Not this time.

After Pitt defeated Virginia Tech on Saturday before a crowd of 58,314 at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va., players decided to give themselves 12 hours.

The reality of the situation wasn’t lost on the players. Pitt was even better in 2015 — 6-1 at one point — before settling for 8-5 at season’s end. This season is only 50% complete, and Narduzzi made it sound like the work has just begun.

Addressing his teammates in the postgame locker room, quarterback Kenny Pickett made that point clear.

“Kenny said a few things in there,” Narduzzi said. “One of the reasons he came back was to play in big games like this.”

Narduzzi meant the game that had just ended, but he later talked about Clemson’s upcoming visit to Pittsburgh.

“The Pitt fans better come out strong at home against Clemson,” the coach said. “It’s going to be an epic game in Pittsburgh. We’re looking forward to it already.

“(The players) said (there’s) a 12-hour rule, not a 24-hour rule. They want 12 hours (which ends about 7 a.m. Sunday), and they want to move on and let’s get ready for Clemson.”

But it would wrong to ignore what Pitt’s defense and running game accomplished while moving all alone into first place in the ACC Coastal. Pitt, which has won its first three road games for the first time since 2008, improved to 5-1, 2-0 in the ACC. Virginia Tech fell to 3-3, 1-1, and the five other ACC Coastal teams already have at least two defeats.

The defense held Virginia Tech to 224 total yards from scrimmage, and quarterback Braxton Burmeister completed 11 of 32 passes for 134 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Narduzzi said advantages in turnovers (1-0) and rushing yardage (208-90) were the biggest differences over Pitt’s most recent trips to Blacksburg — 20-14 and 28-0 losses.

“When you’re on the road and you win those two, you’re going to win the football game,” he said. “Two years ago, we came down here, it was a storm. Bud Foster storm (retired Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster’s last home game). Rain storm.”

Pitt’s run game featured sophomore running back Izzy Abanikanda, who ran for a career-high 140 yards on 21 carries and helped lead a clock-killing possession of more than 11 minutes in the fourth quarter.

Pitt was leading 28-7 when it got the ball on its 4 with 13 minutes, 28 seconds left in the game.

Of the next 16 plays, Abanikanda carried 11 times for 63 yards.

The possession ended at the 2:00 mark without a Pitt score, but any hope of a comeback by the Hokies was lost. More significantly, Pitt showed its critics it has a run game.

“Izzy Abanikanda is a beast,” Narduzzi said. “He’s strong. He’s physical. I love watching him run the football.

“He’s getting the extra yards all the time. When (No.) 2’s in there, it’s a different ball game.”

Pickett contributed to the victory, too, completing a season-low 22 passes on 37 attempts for 203 yards — 143 below his average — and two touchdowns. He didn’t throw an interception for the fifth time this season.

Pickett’s scoring targets were freshman tight end Gavin Bartholomew (first career touchdown) and junior wide receiver Jared Wayne (first score this season).

Wayne led the Panthers with six receptions for 94 yards, and Jordan Addison caught five for 62 yards but didn’t score for the first time.

A wind measured at 20 mph blew through Lane Stadium, possibly making a difference, although Narduzzi didn’t think so.

“(Pickett) can throw it through the wind,” he said.

Asked if Pitt made a statement, Narduzzi said, “I think every day’s a statement.”

“We just come to play. We’re not worried about the crowd. Just come out and play and execute and play Pitt football. That’s what we came down here to do. Didn’t care who was out there. Didn’t care what the scoreboard looked like. Just play Pitt football.”

But was it Pitt’s best defensive effort of the season.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m waiting on it. I hope the next one’s the best.”