Ben Sauls converted a 35-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to cap a dramatic 22-point comeback and lift the visiting Pittsburgh Panthers to a stunning 28-27 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the “River City Rivalry” on Saturday.
It was Pitt’s largest comeback since Oct. 9, 1971, when they trailed Navy 35-10 at halftime and rallied for a 36-35 win.
The Bearcats (1-1) built a 27-6 lead before a furious fourth-quarter charge from the Panthers (2-0), who were led by Desmond Reid. The running back had 148 yards on 19 carries and six catches for 106 yards, including a 56-yard catch-and-run score over the middle that trimmed the Pitt deficit to 27-25 with 5:40 remaining in regulation.
Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein was 20 of 35 for 302 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He connected with Konata Mumpfield on five receptions for 123 yards and two scores.
Brendan Sorsby threw three touchdown passes and finished 22 of 38 for 298 yards while Corey Kiner ran for 149 yards on 20 carries to lead Cincinnati.
The Bearcats had a chance to seal the game with a defensive stop on third-and-4 from the Pittsburgh 26, but delay of game was called on defensive lineman Kam Wilson, giving the Panthers new life.
Pitt drove to the Cincinnati 17, where Sauls made his third field goal of the game to put the Panthers ahead for the first time with 17 seconds left.
After a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, Sorsby completed one pass for 6 yards, then was sacked by Nate Matlack. On the game’s final play, Sorsby completed a pass to Kiner for eight yards and his fumble was recovered by Javon McIntyre.
The game featured the return of Cincinnati standout nose tackle Dontay Corleone, who was sidelined this summer with blood clots in his lungs. He alternated defensive series in the first half as his snap count and game conditioning was closely monitored.
Corleone made a big stop for no gain on third down in the fourth quarter before Pitt made it a one-score game on the next play, a 38-yard Holstein-to-Mumpfield touchdown strike on fourth-and-3 with 10:41 left in the fourth.
After a Cincinnati punt on the opening series, the Panthers drove down the field to the Cincinnati 26. On second-and-7, Holstein threw a pass down the seam that was picked off in the end zone by Josh Minkins.
Cincinnati stopped Pitt on the opening drive of the second half, allowing Sorsby to march the Bearcats 58 yards in 10 plays, capped off by a 16-yard pass over the middle to Ohio State transfer tight end Joe Royer.
The Bearcats led 24-6 and made it 27-6 with 4:50 left in the third quarter on Carter Brown’s second field goal of the day from 26 yards.
