Without 6 starters, Pitt slams Austin Peay in opener

In his time as Pitt’s coach, Pat Narduzzi had seen too many meaningless victories against weaker competition:

• Youngstown State in 2015, 45-37 (overtime).

• Delaware and Eastern Michigan last year (17-14 and 34-30). Of the latter game, Narduzzi said, “… we played hard enough just to win the game.”

He was determined to emphasize to his players that their 2020 opener against Austin Peay in an empty Heinz Field needed to be different, must mean more.

Future games will tell us if Pitt’s 55-0 victory set the proper tone for the season. Remember: Pitt defeated Delaware, 62-0, in its 2014 opener (pre-Narduzzi) and won only five of the next 12 games.

But Narduzzi and his players were encouraged.

“We were going to show we were a good football team and really make a statement to the country about who we are and what kind of weapons we have in, really, all three phases of the game,” said Narduzzi, who wasn’t happy when Pitt received no votes in the Associated Press preseason poll.

“I wanted to prove that this 2020 team is a different team, and they really are.”

He’ll get no argument from Austin Peay, whose players and coaches couldn’t keep up with Pitt’s speed, fell behind 42-0 at halftime and actually asked for mercy.

Austin Peay asked to trim the third and fourth quarters from 15 to 10 minutes each to minimize the bleeding.

“I’ve never, ever in 31 years of coaching played 10-minute (quarters),” said Narduzzi, who needed to agree to the dramatic change in game protocol.

Truth be told, Pitt wasn’t at full strength for the game. Six starters were missing, including All-ACC defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman (opt-out) and senior cornerback Damarri Mathis (injury), who were declared out in training camp.

Then, Pitt lost tight end Lucas Krull and wide receiver Taysir Mack with apparent injuries Narduzzi didn’t indicate were serious.

Also missing for “covid-related protocols” were seven players Pitt officials did not identify.

Starting defensive end Rashad Weaver tweeted before the game he had conflicting results from four covid tests and didn’t expect to play. Also, defensive tackle Keyshon Camp didn’t play and wasn’t with the team on the bench.

Narduzzi wasn’t eager to talk about the players who didn’t play, but those who did gave him plenty to discuss and evaluate.

It starts with quarterback Kenny Pickett, who completed 14 of 20 passes for 277 passes and a touchdown. Pickett was also one of five Pitt players who scored rushing touchdowns. Pitt scored six times on the ground after getting only 11 such touchdowns in 13 games last season.

“Kenny put the ball where it needed to be 99 percent of the time,” Narduzzi said.

Pitt’s ground game pushed around the Austin Peay defense at will, with four of the five running backs listed on the depth chart scoring touchdowns. Vincent Davis led the group with 47 yards on 11 carries and two scores.

A.J. Davis started and carried five times for 24 yards. Freshman Izzy Abanikanda junior Todd Sibley and redshirt freshman Daniel Carter also scored, helping Pitt to a net total of 147 yards rushing. Carter scored on his first collegiate carry.

“It felt like old times, 2018,” said All-ACC center Jimmy Morrissey, referencing a Pitt team that had two 1,000-yard rushers.

“We executed well all week in practice and went out there and ran the gameplan.”

Austin Peay (0-2) had no offense worth mentioning, totaling 139 yards with 3 net on the ground, thanks to three sacks and a total of eight tackles for a loss.

Freshman defensive end Dayon Hayes (Westinghouse) had two of the sacks and a forced fumble. Junior safety Paris Ford kicked off Pitt’s first defensive series with a TFL and an interception.

In the end, the game served as a tune-up for the next 11 weeks when Pitt will play 10 consecutive ACC opponents. Those will be the most serious tests, and each one more difficult than anything Pitt saw inside Heinz Field.

Still, there is hope among the players.

Said Morrissey: “New year and a new team.”

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