A phrase that I often use in this space when writing about a particularly notable game or contest is "this is why you follow sports." Pitt fans experienced just such a moment when the Panthers outplayed and defeated the Clemson Tigers and, more importantly, their self-righteous coach, William Christopher Swinney, by a score of 27-17. I know that I have been at sporting events that have been more enjoyable, but it's hard to remember one in the immediate afterglow of that win yesterday at Heinz Field.
The game turned on a most improbable play, when Pitt linebacker SirVocea Dennis intercepted a shovel pass from the Clemson quarterback at midfield and sprinted alone and untouched into the end zone for a touchdown that upped the score to 21-7 in Pitt's favor. None of us could ever remember seeing an interception of a shovel pass before, and undoubtedly no one in the entire stadium was more surprised to have the ball land smack in his breadbasket than Dennis himself.
It can also be considered the game where Pitt's senior QB Kenny Pickett announced himself to the nation at large as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate. He threw two TD passes yesterday and no interceptions (he has thrown only one INT all season). Even more impressive was how he took control of the game in the fourth quarter. Pitt controlled the ball for over thirteen minutes of the fourth quarter, and when they took possession with a bit more than seven minutes remaining, Pickett himself ran for gains of six and seven yards for first downs on two third down plays in that drive that allowed Pitt to bleed the clock out until the it read 00:00.
The afternoon and evening at Heinz Field yesterday was fun, exciting, and exhilarating, and games and days like that are why you follow sports.
Oh, and speaking of Pickett and the Heisman, back in August, I placed a $1 bet on him to win that Trophy at 100-1 odds. He wins it, I get a hundred bucks. That same $1 bet made today would only win you nine (9) bucks.
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