Pitt
4-1 , 1-0
Georgia Tech
2-3 , 1-2
Pitt Thrashes Georgia Tech, 52-21
10/2/2021 7:00:00 PM | Football
ATLANTA (AP) — Kenny Pickett passed for 389 yards and four touchdowns on Saturday, and Pitt dominated Georgia Tech 52-21.
Pitt (4-1, 1-0 ACC) intercepted the first two passes by Georgia Tech quarterback Jeff Sims, with linebacker John Petrishen returning the second 33 yards for a touchdown to help the Panthers to a 42-14 lead by halftime.
Tech (2-3, 1-2) moved the ball effectively on a couple drives in the first half, but failed to convert any of its five third-down tries and misfired on two fourth downs in that time.
Pickett was methodical in completing 23-of-36 passes. On the season, he has passed for 19 touchdowns with just one interception, which wasn't made by Georgia Tech. Pitt has scored at least 40 points in each of its five games, the first such streak in program history. The Panthers are averaging 52.4 points per contest.
Pickett left the game with five minutes remaining, and the Panthers running out the clock. His 15 touchdown passes in the last three games mark the most prolific three-game passing stretch in Pitt history, surpassing Dan Marino's start to the 1981 season, when he tossed 13 TDs in the opening three contests.
Sims returned to a starting role Saturday and had some success while completing 23-of-32 passes for 342 yards and two scores. The Jackets mustered little on the ground, however, and leading rusher Jahmyr Gibbs carried 10 times for minus-10 yards. Tech rushed for just 73 yards.
Eleven Pitt players caught at least one pass and wide receiver Jordan Addison (six receptions, 117 yards, one touchdown) and Taysir Mack (five receptions, 121 yards, one touchdown) had big days.
THE TAKEAWAY
Pittsburgh: The Panthers buttoned up their play calling for the final quarter-plus, and still managed to total 580 yards with the help of 181 rushing yards.
Georgia Tech: The Jackets hardly looked like the team that upset North Carolina a week earlier in a game with eight sacks. They had one against Pitt.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh: The Panthers will be idle next week before playing at Virginia Tech on Oct. 16.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets play at Duke next Saturday.
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Team Stats
UP 7, GT 0
UP - Abanikanda,Israel 9 yd run (Scarton,Sam kick), 7 plays, 48 yards, TOP 02:14
UP 14, GT 0
UP - Petrishen,John 33 yd interception (Scarton,Sam kick)
UP 14, GT 7
GT - McCollum,Nate 44 yd pass from Sims,Jeff (Cimaglia,Brent kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:02
UP 21, GT 7
UP - Addison,Jordan 11 yd pass from Pickett,Kenny (Scarton,Sam kick) 2 plays, 58 yards, TOP 00:33
UP 28, GT 7
UP - Mack,Taysir 55 yd pass from Pickett,Kenny (Scarton,Sam kick) 2 plays, 55 yards, TOP 00:15
UP 28, GT 14
GT - Smith,Dontae 3 yd run (Cimaglia,Brent kick), 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:48
UP 35, GT 14
UP - Abanikanda,Israel 6 yd run (Scarton,Sam kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:08
UP 42, GT 14
UP - Krull,Lucas 16 yd pass from Pickett,Kenny (Scarton,Sam kick) 2 plays, 45 yards, TOP 00:39
UP 49, GT 14
UP - Carter,Daniel 2 yd pass from Pickett,Kenny (Scarton,Sam kick) 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:49
UP 49, GT 21
GT - Sanders,Adonicas 4 yd pass from Sims,Jeff (Cimaglia,Brent kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:41
UP 52, GT 21
UP - Scarton,Sam 46 yd field goal 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 04:56
