Redshirt freshman Tyler Van Dyke completed 32-of-42 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns, and Jaylan Knighton ran for two scores, leading the visiting Miami Hurricanes to a 38-34 upset win over the 17th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers in an ACC game on Saturday afternoon.
Miami (4-4, 2-2) won its second straight game as Knighton ran for 80 yards. Miami’s Charleston Rambo caught seven passes for 101 yards.
Pitt (6-2, 3-1) was led by quarterback Kenny Pickett, who completed 39-of-55 passes for 519 yards and three touchdowns.
However, Pickett, who is 1-3 against Miami in his career, was intercepted twice. Entering the game, he had been intercepted just once this season.
Panthers running back Israel Abanikanda scored twice. Pitt receiver Jordan Addison caught eight passes for 145 yards. Both players were in the concussion protocol earlier this week.
Both teams scored on 75-yard opening drives. Abanikanda ran one yard for a TD. Van Dyke hit freshman tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 20-yard TD pass.
On Pitt’s next possession, the Panthers went for it on fourth-and-three from the Miami 45, and Pickett threw incomplete.
Miami took advantage on Van Dyke’s 43-yard touchdown pass to tight end Will Mallory on a trick play that originally looked like a double reverse. But then the ball got back to Van Dyke, and Mallory was open down the right sideline.
The first quarter ended with Miami leading 21-10 as the Hurricanes got Knighton’s 40-yard TD run, and Pitt scored on Sam Scarton’s 38-yard field goal.
By halftime, Miami had stretched its lead to 31-17, getting Andre Borregales’ 26-yard field goal and Knighton’s one-yard run, which was set up by Tyrique Stevenson’s 39-yard interception return. Pitt got a 20-yard TD swing pass to Abanikanda.
Pitt scored on its first two third-quarter possessions, tying the score 31-31 on Pickett’s TD passes to Jared Wayne (12 yards) and Jaylon Barden (19).
Miami regained the lead, 38-31, on a 13-yard TD pass to Key’Shawn Smith, who made a stellar grab in the end zone with 2:15 left in the third.
With 13:55 left in fourth quarter, Scarton’s 23-yard field goal cut Pitt’s deficit to 38-34.
Miami got a crucial first down with 2:39 left on a third-and-four pass to Mallory. After picking up the first down, Mallory fumbled backward. Initially, it was ruled fourth down. But when that call was reversed on video review, Miami was able to kneel down and essentially end the game.
–Field Level Media