BY THE SKIN OF AN ORANGE
Report by Matt Schmidlin | November 19, 2022
Three Thoughts from the Peanut Gallery
1. Crisis Averted
After choking away a 35-21 lead and allowing 21 fourth quarter points, the Panthers found their backs up against the wall with under 3 minutes to play. However, Pitt showed their mettle on the road by riding their three horseman, with
Da'vion Reynolds,
CJ Kirk, and
Ceno Rodgers III all providing contributions on the final possession as the Panthers chewed up the clock and the Orange's hope for an upset, draining off 2:43 before
Johnny Midey drilled a chip shot to keep the Panthers' season unblemished. Kirk's 3rd down completion to Rodgers was a strike, as was his scrambling effort to find
KJ Welsh, with the junior receiver doing a great job making himself available for his quarterback. Big time players make big time play in big time moments has never meant so much as the Panthers stay unbeaten for another week.
2. As Advertised
Syracuse QB
Cornell Washington has been rocketing up draft boards this season, and Pitt fans got a full glimpse of why on Saturday evening. The redshirt junior was a menace to the Panther defense, converting first downs again and again. Even in times when the Orange were well behind the sticks, Washington found a way to convert with either his arm or his legs and get 'Cuse a new set of downs. Other than a pair of missed throws that
Sedric Granger got his gloves on (one which he intercepted), Washington was near perfect and his 5 TD performance should be a huge highlight reel for NFL teams come draft time.
3. All Day Midey
What more can you say about
Johnny Midey? The sophomore kicker never seems to blink under pressure, and nailed yet another game winning field goal for the Panthers when called upon at the last moment. Despite not attempting a field goal all game, Midey trotted out for the final play of the game, withstood an icing from Syracuse coach Dino Babers, and calmly slotted his kick through the uprights before sprinting across the field to the visiting fan section in jubilation. Just another day for Johnny Futbol.
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