UNC’s late comeback not enough, as Pitt wins in overtime
There’s a running joke that no matter how bad or good North Carolina is, it always seems to beat Pittsburgh.
UNC beat only three FBS opponents in 2017 and 2018. Two of those wins came against Pitt, including in 2018, the year Pitt won the ACC’s Coastal Division.
But late Thursday night, Pitt finally broke free after seven years and beat the Tar Heels 34-27 in overtime at Heinz Field.
The Tar Heels have lost two consecutive games after having a shot to win the Coastal just three weeks ago. They were officially eliminated from contention last week after Virginia beat Georgia Tech.
UNC’s loss to Pitt means the Tar Heels must win their final two games to become bowl eligible. UNC (4-6, 3-4 ACC) plays FCS Mercer (4-6) and N.C. State (4-5) over the next two weeks to close out the season.
“My job is to help these guys learn to win close games, and I’ve failed the last two weeks,” UNC coach Mack Brown said after the game.
Beating Pitt would have made becoming bowl eligible a lot easier. But beating Pitt (7-3, 4-2) is obviously easier said than done.
The Panthers outplayed the Tar Heels for a majority of the game. Pitt’s offense seemed to move down the field with ease. Quarterback Kenny Pickett had 412 total yards and three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing). And the Pitt defense, which entered as the 24th-best scoring defense in the country, held the Tar Heels to 10 points through three quarters.
But Howell and the Tar Heels stormed back. Howell completed 8 of 11 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. A 13-play, 60-yard drive ended on a Noah Ruggles field goal that tied the game with 13 seconds left.
“We had the momentum, and we were just making plays,” Howell said. “Everything was clicking on offense, defense was getting stops, and we got right back in the game.
“We’ve just got to finish.”
In overtime, though, Pitt got the best of UNC. Pitt was facing a third-and-14 from the UNC 29-yard line, but Pickett completed a 15-yard pass to Taysir Mack for a first down to extend the drive.
Three players later, Pickett rushed for a three-yard touchdown to take the lead.
When it was the Tar Heels’ turn to answer, they had none. Their drive stalled at the Pitt 17-yard line when Howell’s pass in the endzone to junior wide receiver Dazz Newsome fell short of the target.
Howell finished 27 of 43 for 322 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Nine of UNC’s 10 games this season have been decided by a touchdown or less. UNC has lost six of its last seven one-possession games.
“That’s our second overtime loss, so I’m proud that the kids fight so hard, and we as coaches need to figure out how to get them over the hump,” Brown said.
First down
UNC senior running back Antonio Williams rushed for a season-high 107 yards on 12 carries. It was his third 100-yard rushing game in a UNC uniform and his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. With Javonte Williams and Michael Carter getting the majority of the carries this season, Antonio Williams has not played much. He’s also had a few nagging injuries.
But he took advantage of his time on the field on Thursday. His longest rush was a 59-yard carry in the second quarter.
“I’m just glad to be back out here and help the team,” Williams said. “If that means getting carries, if that means trying to block a punt, I don’t care what that is, I’m just trying to help this team win.”
Touchdown
The Tar Heels trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter and scored two quick touchdowns to tie the game. After Pitt re-took the lead, UNC drove 60 yards and sent the game to overtime on a Ruggles field goal.
Penalty
The Tar Heels’ defense was just plain bad at times. In the second quarter, Pickett threw a 74-yard touchdown pass to receiver Shocky Jacques-Louis. Louis got a step on UNC junior cornerback Greg Ross and raced to the end zone untouched.
The score put the Panthers up 17-7 with 9:41 left in the second quarter. It was the longest play the Tar Heels have allowed this season. This was one game after allowing Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins to scramble for a 65-yard touchdown two weeks ago.
ICYMI
Junior safety Myles Wolfolk is out for the season with an upper body injury, a UNC spokesperson said Thursday night. It was a different injury than the lower body injury that caused him to miss four games earlier this season. Wolfolk missed most of the 2018 season with an injury and played sparingly in the spring as he recovered from offseason surgery.
Sophomore cornerback Trey Morrison also missed Thursday’s game with an upper body injury. He is still working his way back from an arm injury he suffered last month. Morrison played in the first half of UNC’s game against Virginia, but missed the majority of the second half.
Key numbers
1 three-and-out by Pitt for the entire game. UNC’s defense couldn’t contain Pitt’s offense.
29 touchdown passes by Howell this season. He is one touchdown away from tying Mitch Trubisky’s single season record.
5 Pitt had five plays that went for 28 yards or more.
This story was originally published November 14, 2019 at 11:50 PM.
