Pitt’s Desmond Reid didn’t take too much time to get it going on special teams in Pitt’s 61-9 season-opening win against Duquesne Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
Reid sparked the Panthers with an electrifying 88-yard punt return against the outmanned Dukes, setting the stage for what would follow.
“As soon as I saw the punt off his foot, I knew it was a touchdown,” Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein said in the postgame press conference. “He caught it with 15 yards of separation and I said ‘touchdown.’”
Reid shifts gears when he’s on the loose. He blows by everyone.
“That’s the mindset,” Reid said after the game. “Once I get past who I need to get past, there ain’t no one catching me. That’s how I got to be. That’s how I’ve been my whole life. Once I get past the second level, it’s over.”
Reid’s first points came off a punt return for the second consecutive season as he returned a punt for 78 yards against Kent State last season.
The last FBS player whose first points came off punt returns in back-to-back seasons is pro football Hall of Famer Devin Hester, whose first touchdowns in the 2004 and 2005 seasons came off punt returns.
Reid one upped him, however, as Reid’s came in the first game of the season.
The 5-foot-8 running back joins special company on special teams. Ohio State’s Ted Ginn Jr., Michigan’s Desmond Howard, Florida State’s Deion Sanders and Texas Tech’s Wes Welker all began their legendary careers with punt return touchdowns.
Reid finished with 66 rushing yards on eight carries. He ran one in for an explosive 53-yard touchdown.
“Having a guy like that who gets that 40-, 50-yard touchdown, you find a way to get him the ball so he can go out there and make plays,” Holstein said. “He’s one of the most dynamic guys in the country. Finding ways to get him the ball makes my job easy, Kade Bell’s job easy and makes everyone’s job easy.”
Reid wasn’t the only one who got things going. Kenny Johnson tallied 64 yards on three punt returns and he also broke one for 78 yards on a kick return to put the Panthers in Duquesne territory.
“I thought special teams played at a high level,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “That touchdown with Des Reid, I think that’s two years in a row the first punt goes for a touchdown. We had some other good ones too. Kenny Johnson got some really good work back there.”
Johnson continuously set the Panthers up with good field position, which led to a 27-point second half.
“That’s something we always talk about as a team,” Reid said. “Every game is going to start with special teams. Special teams help the team with the mood. If we kick the ball off and get a big hit or get a fumble, that turns us up.”
Johnson caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown.
Holstein and Cole Gonzales both hit whopping plays down the stretch. They found receivers all game as Holstein went 15 of 23 for 215 yards and a career best four touchdowns. Gonzales completed eight of 15 passes for 87 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Yates.
“Kenny made a great play when I needed him too,” Holstein said. “Bryce with that touchdown at the end of the game, having all those options and weapons is going to carry us into the season when we are playing really good opponents later in the season and pushing for an ACC Championship.”
The Panthers will try to keep it going this week when they entertain Central Michigan at noon Saturday, Sept. 6, at Acrisure Stadium.
Central Michigan won its opener Friday night, 16-14, over San Jose State.
Pitt’s Juelz Goff powers ahead for yardage while Duquesne’s Antonio Epps latches on for the stop in the Panthers’ win over Duquesne Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, at Acrisure Stadium. (Photo by Mike Longo Jr.)
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