Penn State 51, Pittsburgh 6: What we saw and wondered
CDT writers Josh Moyer and Johnny McGonigal critique the Penn State vs. Pittsburgh game, while photojournalist Phoebe Sheehan adds behind-the-scenes and in-game photos.
Penn State wins 51-6 over Penn State with an exciting second half #PSUvsPITT pic.twitter.com/nhFIlU5blx
— Phoebe Sheehan (@phoebe_sheehan) September 9, 2018
Well, it didn’t look good at halftime. But, based on the 51-6 final score, I think you can still call it mission accomplished: pic.twitter.com/vEXKOVI1rH
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Instant reaction from Heinz Field
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Pat Narduzzi, Blake Gillikin and the Nittany Lions’ 51-6 rout of Pitthttps://t.co/HEG4wS3x0W
I don’t think Heinz Field is used to so many “away media.” There are so many reporters here that at least four can’t fit inside ... pic.twitter.com/9jb6M7ZVHS
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Penn State 51, Pitt 6 pic.twitter.com/qvQtCDHurJ
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
The Penn State-Pitt game went from weird to ugly quickly. The Nittany Lions are now up 51-6 on Sean Clifford's first career pass and TD pass.
— Centre Daily Times (@centredaily) September 9, 2018
Boy, this game escalated quickly.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Well, at least the second half did. Penn State fans, how do you feel about this game?
On one hand, it's a big win. On the other hand ... everything else.
Mac Hippenhammer touchdown
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Penn State leads 37-6 with 11:40 to go
Pitt’s student section is heading for the exits — and I don’t blame them. (And I took that photo before Thompkins’ return.)
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a sloppier game in person. pic.twitter.com/4mYQ5nJ1tz
DeAndre Thompkins, ballgame
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Punt return touchdown pushes Penn State's lead to 30-6 with 28 seconds left in the third
Pitt students exit Heinz Field
As much as Pitt has shot itself in the foot on special teams, give credit to Penn State punter Blake Gillikin
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Maybe the best game of his career
That's the Kevin Givens difference
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
A holding penalty is called on Pitt, and it's in the end zone. Safety.
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Penn State leads 23-6 and gets the ball back. Nittany Lions have a chance to bury Pitt here.
What Pitt's doing right now? I gotta think it's Exhibits A-H on why James Franklin tries to treat every game as the same, each and every week.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Touchdown, Penn State
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Trace McSorley's first true carry of the night and he finds the end zone
Nittany Lions lead 21-6
Penn State's trying to beat Pitt, but Pitt keeps beating them to it.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
PSU leads 21-6 after a short TD run by Trace McSorley.
Touchdown, Penn State
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Trace McSorley's first true carry of the night and he finds the end zone
Nittany Lions lead 21-6
But, for as sloppy as PSU is, Pitt's even sloppier.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
A Pitt roughing-the-passer penalty gives the Nittany Lions a first down deep in Pitt territory.
Guys, what does good football look like again? https://t.co/vOrMdpFH3r
Back-to-back drops by DeAndre Thompkins (would-be touchdown) and Juwan Johnson (would-be first down)
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Brutal
Definitely seems appropriate, given how sloppy this game has been for both teams so far. https://t.co/nyJjwFJfXW
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Pitt averaged 6.9 yards per carry in the first half
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
214 yards total
Quadree Ollison alone had 125
It's only six quarters, but KJ Hamler looks like he could be that electric presence https://t.co/q7UpURT0w0
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
A closer look at Pitt’s special teams in the first half: pic.twitter.com/Abm1VFqac5
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
By the way, the weather / field conditions are so bad that Pitt's band stayed in the stands for its halftime performance
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Penn State has almost as many points (14) as Pitt has passing yards (17) at the halftime
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Pitt has 214 rushing yards and has been inside the PSU 35 four times so far.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
It has 6 points at halftime.
206 rushing yards and trailing. That's unbelievable on so many levels.
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Man, this game is weird. Penn State is a KJ Hamler away from having a miserable season thus far.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
KJ Hamler is a kickoff return touchdown away from pulling a Derrick Williams
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
A great point. He had two rushing TDs last week.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
His only rushing "attempt" so far today was a sack where he lost 8 yards. https://t.co/yhj3VzRR1e
I don't know what's happening anymore
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
With both teams giving up on attempting field goals, this game just got a whole lot more interesting.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Pitt had 238 rushing yards against Albany last weekend
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Panthers might have more than that by end of the first half against Penn State
I swear @jmcgonigal9 turned to me and questioned why Ricky Slade was on the field over Miles Sanders two plays ago. Didn't understand the rotation in this key moment
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
If you're a Bills fan, these field-goal attempts are bringing back too many memories. #PennStatevsPItt
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Pitt misses a 34-yard field goal wide right
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Not sure we see another field goal attempt tonight
Pitt's first positive completion of the game is a 6-yard shovel pass to a fullback
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
I know most everyone's going to say that play ended up great because it's on the 4-yard line.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Personally? I still don't like punting there.
Crappy weather and a freshman kicker who just missed a 45-yarder, Penn State punts ... and Blake Gillikin does his thing
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
The junior pins Pitt at its own 4
Also, two unsportsmanlike calls on a coach = ejection
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
We have at least three quarters left in this game https://t.co/eYzP1EVVDU
What. Was. That.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Oh boy ... Pat Narduzzi is losing it. Ref warns the sideline, Narduzzi steps onto the field and starts yelling -- and the ref walks back to the flag, picks it up and throws it again.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
15-yard penalty on Narduzzi.
Was pretty weak, all things considered https://t.co/Yb1M0ZzL8v
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Amani Oruwariye, another pick
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Shouldn't be surprised anymore. Ball was underthrown, and Oruwariye ripped that down
Shaka Toney and the backup DTs are in right now. As is backup safety Ayron Monroe.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Jake Pinegar's 44-yard field goal missed, plenty of leg but wide right
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
True freshman with his first miss of the year
So how long do we have to wait until Hamler gets some Heisman hype? https://t.co/xMA0DPRVHX
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
Pitt bounces back
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
13-yard touchdown run by Ollison. Untouched until the goal line.
Pitt holder fumbles the snap on the PAT and is stopped. Penn State still leads 7-6
Clairton native Lamont Wade with back-to-back tackles
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
That second one saved a touchdown
KJ Hamler said earlier this week that he was worried how he was going to come back from a torn ACL in high school. He didn't know if his speed would ever be the same.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
That changed this spring. He felt good and got his confidence back -- and doesn't seem like that's let up any.
The Human Joystick made that 32-yard jet-sweep look easy.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
KJ Hamler picks up where he left off last week on the TD. Penn State up early, 7-0.
Cam Brown and the Nittany Lions pressure Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett on the blitz
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Amani Oruwariye almost picks off Pickett's wild pass
Pitt punt gives Penn State the ball at its own 37
Also, the press box is shaking a bit
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 9, 2018
Rivalry or not, this atmosphere at Heinz Field is pretty great
First play for Kevin GIvens on the season. (He was suspended last week.) And he comes away with the tackle.
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
The interior of the defense should be a lot different today with him there.
Penn State will kickoff to start the game. We'll be underway very shortly here ...
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 9, 2018
This is the 99th meeting between the two rivals -- or whatever you want to call them.
Fans in the Pitt student section hold up an Akron Zips sign in front of Penn State as they warm up. Wonder why they would do that... pic.twitter.com/HTFjGIoeiN
— Dave DiCello (@DaveDiCello) September 8, 2018
and John Reid is now out there warming up. Looks like a false alarm.
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 8, 2018
True freshman wideout Justin Shorter also warming up
Tommy Stevens is on the travel roster
Penn State defensive tackle Kevin Givens — who was suspended for last week's game against App State — is in uniform
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 8, 2018
Meanwhile, it doesn't look like corner John Reid is out there
Two of five things to watch tonight...https://t.co/gpM45gWXfO
.@PennStateFball arrives ahead of #PSUvsPITT pic.twitter.com/tijVl9a86B
— Phoebe Sheehan (@phoebe_sheehan) September 8, 2018
The tarp is officially off for #PSUvsPITT pic.twitter.com/Ww88tSXja6
— Phoebe Sheehan (@phoebe_sheehan) September 8, 2018
Penn State’s defense was exploited in the 4th quarter last weekend by a 24-point underdog
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 8, 2018
In 1.5 hours, the unit is tasked with stopping a rival — but the Nittany Lions are confident in the corrections they made this weekhttps://t.co/faxEoEqbvH
Penn State, Pitt taking very different approaches to Saturday’s rivalry ... err ... serieshttps://t.co/VbeqroVT3N
— Josh Moyer (@ByJoshMoyer) September 7, 2018
A homecoming and an opportunity to grow
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 8, 2018
Tonight’s #PennState #Pitt game means a lot to Clairton native Lamont Wade (@Goony_38)https://t.co/CWOoXnVnMm
#CollegeGameDay picks...
— John McGonigal (@jmcgonigal9) September 8, 2018
Desmond Howard: Pitt
Lee Corso: Penn State
Kirk Herbstreit: Penn State
This story was originally published September 8, 2018 at 6:47 PM.