DURHAM, N.C. – Pitt turned to a seldom-used deployment — three guys not named Tyler Boyd — to defeat Duke, 31-13, and break a two-game losing streak Saturday at Wallace Wade Stadium.
The victory prevented North Carolina from clinching the ACC Coastal Division championship Saturday, even if the Tar Heels defeated Miami.
Pitt (7-3, 5-1) has won seven games in the regular season for the first time since 2010 and the first time in three years of ACC play. The Panthers conclude the season at Heinz Field against Louisville and Miami.
Duke (6-4, 3-3) has lost three in a row.
After a season-long search for players to help All-ACC wide receiver Tyler Boyd, Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman threw touchdown passes to Zach Challingsworth, tight end J.P. Holtz and Dontez Ford.
Peterman completed 13 of 23 passes for 180 yards. It was his sixth start without an interception.
Boyd still contributed, rushing for a career-high 79 yards on eight carries in an offensive attack that also featured running back Qadree Ollison, who rushed 26 times for 111 yards for his fourth 100-yard game.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney didn't forget about strong safety Jordan Whitehead, who gained 38 yards on four attempts, including an 18-yarder that set up Ollison's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Whitehead also intercepted a pass, finishing 1 yard short of becoming the first Pitt player in recent memory to record an interception and rushing touchdown in the same game.
Overall, Pitt scored on four consecutive possessions, including a field goal at the end of the first half.
Pitt seized control of the game in the third quarter, with Peterman leading touchdown drives of 81 and 74 yards on his first two opportunities.
Pitt took a 17-10 lead, helped by two defensive penalties against Duke on third down — holding by All-American candidate safety Jeremy Cash and pass interference by cornerback Breon Borders.
The score was a nicely executed 3-yard pass from Peterman to Holtz. Peterman rolled right and threw left and found Holtz surrounded in the end zone by two defenders.
Peterman's second touchdown pass of the second half and third of the game was a 5-yarder that was thrown barely over the outstretched hands of a Duke defender and into the hands of Ford.
Duke's only scoring play after halftime was a 51-yard field goal by Ross Martin that hit the crossbar and bounced high in the air and through the uprights.
Surprisingly, the first half ended in a defensive struggle and a 10-10 tie.
Duke drove inside the Pitt 10 three times, and had only a touchdown and field goal to show for it. Pitt forced fourth down twice.
Backup linebacker Matt Steinbeck, a walk-on, broke up a fake field goal attempt on the first occasion, but Duke coach David Cutcliffe decided to kick it the second time and Martin hit from 27 yards.
Pitt's Chris Blewitt tied the score with 43 seconds left, hitting a 51-yard field goal, his first beyond the 50 since winning the Georgia Tech game with a 56-yarder.
Pitt took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring the game's initial touchdown for the first time in four games.
Challingsworth caught his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 13-yarder from Peterman on third down. Pitt converted two other third downs on the 13-play, 92-yard drive, the Panthers' longest of the season.
Duke answered on its next drive, with Boehme hitting Anthony Nash for 52-yard pass to the 1. On the next play, Boehme carried most of the Pitt defense into the end zone for the tying touchdown.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
The victory prevented North Carolina from clinching the ACC Coastal Division championship Saturday, even if the Tar Heels defeated Miami.
Pitt (7-3, 5-1) has won seven games in the regular season for the first time since 2010 and the first time in three years of ACC play. The Panthers conclude the season at Heinz Field against Louisville and Miami.
Duke (6-4, 3-3) has lost three in a row.
After a season-long search for players to help All-ACC wide receiver Tyler Boyd, Pitt quarterback Nathan Peterman threw touchdown passes to Zach Challingsworth, tight end J.P. Holtz and Dontez Ford.
Peterman completed 13 of 23 passes for 180 yards. It was his sixth start without an interception.
Boyd still contributed, rushing for a career-high 79 yards on eight carries in an offensive attack that also featured running back Qadree Ollison, who rushed 26 times for 111 yards for his fourth 100-yard game.
Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney didn't forget about strong safety Jordan Whitehead, who gained 38 yards on four attempts, including an 18-yarder that set up Ollison's 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Whitehead also intercepted a pass, finishing 1 yard short of becoming the first Pitt player in recent memory to record an interception and rushing touchdown in the same game.
Overall, Pitt scored on four consecutive possessions, including a field goal at the end of the first half.
Pitt seized control of the game in the third quarter, with Peterman leading touchdown drives of 81 and 74 yards on his first two opportunities.
Pitt took a 17-10 lead, helped by two defensive penalties against Duke on third down — holding by All-American candidate safety Jeremy Cash and pass interference by cornerback Breon Borders.
The score was a nicely executed 3-yard pass from Peterman to Holtz. Peterman rolled right and threw left and found Holtz surrounded in the end zone by two defenders.
Peterman's second touchdown pass of the second half and third of the game was a 5-yarder that was thrown barely over the outstretched hands of a Duke defender and into the hands of Ford.
Duke's only scoring play after halftime was a 51-yard field goal by Ross Martin that hit the crossbar and bounced high in the air and through the uprights.
Surprisingly, the first half ended in a defensive struggle and a 10-10 tie.
Duke drove inside the Pitt 10 three times, and had only a touchdown and field goal to show for it. Pitt forced fourth down twice.
Backup linebacker Matt Steinbeck, a walk-on, broke up a fake field goal attempt on the first occasion, but Duke coach David Cutcliffe decided to kick it the second time and Martin hit from 27 yards.
Pitt's Chris Blewitt tied the score with 43 seconds left, hitting a 51-yard field goal, his first beyond the 50 since winning the Georgia Tech game with a 56-yarder.
Pitt took an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring the game's initial touchdown for the first time in four games.
Challingsworth caught his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 13-yarder from Peterman on third down. Pitt converted two other third downs on the 13-play, 92-yard drive, the Panthers' longest of the season.
Duke answered on its next drive, with Boehme hitting Anthony Nash for 52-yard pass to the 1. On the next play, Boehme carried most of the Pitt defense into the end zone for the tying touchdown.
Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
