University of Pittsburgh Athletics

Game Notes: Panthers Ready for Virginia to Visit Heinz Field
10/23/2017 11:45:00 AM | Football
Game Notes (PDF): Pitt vs. Virginia
PITT (3-5, 1-3 ACC) vs. VIRGINIA (5-2, 2-1 ACC)
October 28, 2017 • 12:30 p.m., ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
RSN (AT&T SportsNet) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
GAME STORYLINES
• A 24-17 winner at Duke last week, Pitt looks to build upon that successful outing when it hosts Virginia for an ACC encounter at Heinz Field.
• The Cavaliers are one of the ACC's surprise teams this season with a 5-2 record. However, Virginia saw its four-game winning streak halted last week with a 41-10 loss to Boston College.
• Pitt and Virginia meet annually as members of the Coastal Division. The Panthers are 3-1 against the Cavaliers in ACC play and won in Charlottesville last year, 45-31.
• Pitt literally rushed to victory against Duke, compiling a season-high 336 yards on the ground. Junior tailback Darrin Hall was the spearhead, rambling for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries (10.6 avg.).
• Hall's touchdowns included runs of 79 and 92 yards. The latter broke a 100-year-old record as the longest in Pitt history.
• Pitt's revitalized running game was a welcome development, especially with a new starter at quarterback. Sophomore Ben DiNucci has started each of the past two games following the season-ending injury to Max Browne at Syracuse (Oct. 7).
• On the year, DiNucci has completed 55% of his passes (63 of 115) for 761 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In last week's Duke victory, he was 8 of 18 for 149 yards with zero turnovers and made some critical throws on the Panthers' final two scoring drives.
• Pitt's passing game will face a ball-hawking Virginia secondary. The Cavaliers have nine interceptions this year to rank 20th nationally and third in the ACC.
• The Panthers are tied for the ACC lead with six fumble recoveries this season (recovered by six different players). Pitt is third in the conference with 13 total turnovers gained.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1953
Series Overall: Pitt leads 6-3
ACC Series: Pitt leads 3-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 4-0
At Virginia: Series tied 2-2
Neutral Sites: UVA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 15, 2016 (Pitt won, 45-31)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Oct. 10, 2015 (Pitt won, 26-19)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 2 (2015-16)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (1953, 1955; 2015-16)
Longest UVA Series Win Streak: 1 game (3 times, 2003; '07; '14)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 26 points (26-0, 1953)
Largest UVA Victory Margin: 30 points (44-14, 2007)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • RSN (AT&T SportsNet in Pittsburgh)
Wes Durham (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst), Rebecca Kaple (reporter)
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Bill Osborn (analyst), Larry Richert (reporter)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 112, XM Channel 193, Internet Channel 955
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com
Pitt Panthers Gameday App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
PITT (3-5, 1-3 ACC) vs. VIRGINIA (5-2, 2-1 ACC)
October 28, 2017 • 12:30 p.m., ET
Heinz Field (68,400/Natural Grass) • Pittsburgh, Pa.
RSN (AT&T SportsNet) • Pitt IMG Sports Radio Network
GAME STORYLINES
• A 24-17 winner at Duke last week, Pitt looks to build upon that successful outing when it hosts Virginia for an ACC encounter at Heinz Field.
• The Cavaliers are one of the ACC's surprise teams this season with a 5-2 record. However, Virginia saw its four-game winning streak halted last week with a 41-10 loss to Boston College.
• Pitt and Virginia meet annually as members of the Coastal Division. The Panthers are 3-1 against the Cavaliers in ACC play and won in Charlottesville last year, 45-31.
• Pitt literally rushed to victory against Duke, compiling a season-high 336 yards on the ground. Junior tailback Darrin Hall was the spearhead, rambling for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries (10.6 avg.).
• Hall's touchdowns included runs of 79 and 92 yards. The latter broke a 100-year-old record as the longest in Pitt history.
• Pitt's revitalized running game was a welcome development, especially with a new starter at quarterback. Sophomore Ben DiNucci has started each of the past two games following the season-ending injury to Max Browne at Syracuse (Oct. 7).
• On the year, DiNucci has completed 55% of his passes (63 of 115) for 761 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions. In last week's Duke victory, he was 8 of 18 for 149 yards with zero turnovers and made some critical throws on the Panthers' final two scoring drives.
• Pitt's passing game will face a ball-hawking Virginia secondary. The Cavaliers have nine interceptions this year to rank 20th nationally and third in the ACC.
• The Panthers are tied for the ACC lead with six fumble recoveries this season (recovered by six different players). Pitt is third in the conference with 13 total turnovers gained.
SERIES IN BRIEF
Series Began: 1953
Series Overall: Pitt leads 6-3
ACC Series: Pitt leads 3-1
At Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 4-0
At Virginia: Series tied 2-2
Neutral Sites: UVA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 15, 2016 (Pitt won, 45-31)
Last Meeting at Pitt: Oct. 10, 2015 (Pitt won, 26-19)
Current Series Streak: Pitt has won 2 (2015-16)
Longest Pitt Series Win Streak: 2 games (1953, 1955; 2015-16)
Longest UVA Series Win Streak: 1 game (3 times, 2003; '07; '14)
Largest Pitt Victory Margin: 26 points (26-0, 1953)
Largest UVA Victory Margin: 30 points (44-14, 2007)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television • RSN (AT&T SportsNet in Pittsburgh)
Wes Durham (play-by-play), James Bates (analyst), Rebecca Kaple (reporter)
Pitt Radio • 93.7 The Fan & the Pitt IMG Sports Network
Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), Bill Osborn (analyst), Larry Richert (reporter)
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
Sirius Channel 112, XM Channel 193, Internet Channel 955
WPTS Radio (Pitt Student Station) • 92.1 FM
Pitt IMG Sports Network Online Audio Options
PittsburghPanthers.com
Pitt Panthers Gameday App
TuneIn (free live and on-demand content)
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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