Pitt comes from behind to stun WVU in wild Backyard Brawl, 38-34

Pitt QB Eli Holstein is stopped just short of the goal line on the Panthers’ game-winning drive in their 38-34 win over the Mountaineers Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
*(Photo by Mike Longo Jr.)*

Redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein engineered a second straight come-from-behind win as Pitt overcame a 10-point deficit with less than five minutes to play to beat West Virginia, 38-34, Saturday, Sept. 14, at Acrisure Stadium.

Pitt, which improved to 3-0, trailed 34-24 with 4 minutes, 55 seconds remaining in the 107th Backyard Brawl before mounting a 75-yard drive that culminated with Holstein’s 40-yard touchdown throw to Daejon Reynolds with 3:06 to play. The scoring toss, which came on a second-and-30 play, cut West Virginia’s lead to 34-31.

Pitt’s defense stiffened on the ensuing Mountaineers drive, forcing a three-and-out and a punt that left the Panthers at their own 23-yard line with 1:59 left.

Holstein, the Alabama transfer who completed 21 of 30 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns, used his legs to propel what proved to be the Panthers’ game-winning drive.

He carried three times for 29 yards and also completed a pair of passes. His last run of the drive gave Pitt a second-and-goal at the West Virginia 1-yard line with 36 seconds left.

Holstein’s helmet came off on that play, and he was forced to leave the game. But backup Nate Yarnell handed off to Derrick Davis Jr., who knifed in from the 1 for the game-winning score.

Holstein finished with 59 yards rushing in 14 attempts to go with his 301 passing yards. Desmond Reid, Pitt’s dynamic running back, was limited to 26 yards rushing in 11 carries, but he hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from Holstein.

West Virginia, which fell to 1-2, outgained Pitt 398-379 before a sellout crowd of 66,087. But the Mountaineers were plagued by mistakes, including a blocked punt that Pitt’s Brandon George returned for a score that vaulted Pitt into a 24-17 third-quarter lead.

West Virginia answered with 17 straight points to take what appeared to be a commanding 34-24 lead, but that all disappeared thanks to Holstein and Co.

Saturday’s win marked the second time in two weeks the Panthers came back from a sizable second-half deficit to claim victory. Last week, Pitt trailed Cincinnati by 21 points before rallying to a victory.