Pittsburgh, PA. – Senior quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for 404 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another in his final start at Heinz Field as shorthanded Pittsburgh rolled past Virginia Tech 47-14. The Panthers (5-4, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) were missing 16 players due to COVID-19 protocols. The missing players included leading receiver Jordan Addison and three starting offensive linemen. It hardly mattered. Relying heavily on short passes designed to take some of the pressure off the patchwork line in front of him, Pickett completed 35 of 52 passes as Pitt won its second straight following a four-game losing streak.
“Disappointed we didn’t get more stops, disappointed we couldn’t convert on 3rd and short and 4th and short. I felt like after the 1st quarter we had rhythm offensively there felt good in 2nd half even. Had the one turnover but couldn’t get things in the endzone, score points, convert on short yardage and defensively had a hard time getting pressure on the quarterback, " Hokies coach Justin Fuente said.
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“Incredibly disappointing considering how hard we work and the amount of care we have for each other as a team. Times we didn’t get off the field when we needed to, there was times we were getting good stops we needed to but it just all didn’t come together,” Hokies defensive lineman Jarrod Hewitt says.
The Hokies look to bounce back from this loss as they take on the Clemson Tigers on Dec. 5 at Lane Stadium.