MIAMI FOOTBALL

Pitt passing game, defense rules in Miami opener

By MIKE SMITH
PITTSBURGH, PA -- Sophomore quarterback Mason Heitschel and the Pitt Panthers have their sights set high this year. If Saturday's performance against the Miami RedHawks is any indication, Panther fans should be filled with optimism.

Heitschel completed 31-of-41 passes, good for 453 yards and seven touchdowns -- to seven different players -- as Pitt (1-0) overwhelmed Miami (0-1) 59-14 Saturday at Acrisure Stadium. 

Defense has been . . . 

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. . . a Miami strength for years, but the RedHawks surrendered 33 first downs and 646 yards of total offense in the opener for both teams. 

Miami's Scoop Smith started the game with a 55-yard kickoff return. However, MU could not get a first down. In fact, it could not move the chains once in the first quarter.

Pitt, on the other hand, quickly reached another gear and ran off three touchdowns on its first three possessions. 

It was soon evident MU had few answers for Heitschel as he eluded what pressure there was and repeatedly found targets all over the field. The sophomore hit Malik Knight over the middle for a 17-yard TD to open scoring. Justin Cook's 50-yard run made it 14-0. After a Miami three-and-out, Heitschel capped a seven-play drive with a 5-yard toss to Elijah Lagg. 

When RedHawk starter David McComb hit Braylon Isom for 18 yards early in the second stanza, it marked MU's first first down. The drive continued, and McComb found Smith for 30 yards -- one yard short of paydirt. One play later, D'Shawntae Jones banged in to get Miami on the board.

After an exchange of punts, Pitt added seven more with a one-play drive. Heintschel hit  Ja'Kyrian Turner for a 45-yard touchdown.

Miami responded with its own quick score as McComb dropped a pass to Damarion Witten on the RedHawks next play from scimmage. Witten shook off a defender and finished a 75-yard score. 

Both teams punted on their next possessions and it looked like the 28-14 score would hold until intermission. However, Pitt took over with just under a minute remaining. Seven plays into the drive, MU appeared to have the Panthers stopped near the Pitt 30, but a personal foul penalty against Miami moved the hosts to near midfield and kept the drive going. Eventually, Antonio Chadha came on to kick a (school record-tying) 58-yard field goal that put Pitt up 31-14. 

Five plays into the third quarter Heitschel dialed in Catarius Hicks for a 53-yard touchdown. Hecks finished with five catches for 114 yards to lead all receivers. 

Heitschel's  35-yard pass to Censere Lee made it a 45-14 game, and Pitt completed its second 21-point quarter of the day with Bryce Yates 27-yard catch less than three minutes later. 

Already up 52-14, Pitt stayed with Heitschel through an 11-play, 87-yard fourth quarter scoring drive. There was 9:48 remaining when he conected with Damon Ferguson Jr for a 37-yard touchdown. 

MORE . . . 
• Miami opens its home slate Saturday when it hosts Holy Cross. The Crusaders are now 0-2 after falling to Colegate 35-10 today. 
• In addition to 59 points during an impressive offensive display, the Pitt defense put on its own show at times. Blitzing again and again from various angles, the Panthers harassed Miami quarterbacks all afternoon. 
• McComb finished with 16 completions on 33 attempts, good for 240 yards and one touchdown. He appeared to be banged up late in the game and backup Caleb Heavner entered. He completed 3-of-4 for 21 yards with one interception. 
• As for the run game, MU was held to 28 yards on 21 carries (1.3 ypc). 
• Miami was flagged for nine penalties (78 yards). Pitt drew five flags totaling 38 yards. 
• Heavner's late interception throw was the game's only turnover. 
• Miami's first touchdown drive was kept alive with a nice sliding catch by Lynel Billups-Williams. The RedHawks were facing fourth-and-nine when McComb tried to squeeze in a pass. Despite having a defender draped on him, Billups-Williams held on to the ball for a first down. Smith's 30-yard reception and Jone's 1-yard TD run followed. 
• Lazaro Rogers led MU rushing with six carries for 21 yards.