Pittsburgh vs Notre Dame Football Recap

Notre Dame 15, Pittsburgh 12

This was a tough game to watch, but it was a great game to survive with a win.

Despite a rather ugly effort on both sides, and yet-another red-zone turnover for Notre Dame, the Irish defeated Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon at Heinz Field.

The Irish took a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter when Jonas Gray scampered for a 79-yard touchdown dash on the first play of the drive, receiving a great block from Michael Floyd on the perimeter. With that lead, Notre Dame appeared to be ready to take control of the game midway through the second quarter, moving a quick drive to Pitt’s 24-yard line. However, the Irish left still more points on the field, just as they have been doing all season long. Yet again, maligned quarterback Tommy Rees threw an interception in the red zone, this time at the Pitt 4-yard line. Luckily the Irish defense clamped up after Pittsburgh’s Ray Graham ran for 42 yards on the next play, and the Panthers did not convert that miscue into points.

The game then swung in Pitt’s favor midway through the third quarter. In the opening possession, Pitt was backed up to its own 10-yard line and forced to punt, but Austin Collinsworth of Notre Dame was flagged for a bogus roughing the punter penalty (he made no contact with the Panthers’ punter), and Pitt’s drive continued. From that point, Pitt quarterback Tino Sunseri led the drive 16 more plays for 80 yards, and ended it in a score when Sunseri found Hubie Graham in the back of the end zone for a three-yard touchdown toss. With a failed two-point conversion, Pitt led 12-7.

Despite the mistakes, Notre Dame would answer the bell and claim the victory that was incredibly ugly in terms of the aesthetics, but even more beautiful on the win-loss ledger. Starting at his own 15-yard line, Rees led an 11-play, 85-yard scoring drive. Rees went 8-for-8 for 74 yards on the drive, which he completed by squeezing a pass to trusted target Tyler Eifert in the end zone. A two-point conversion set the final score at 15-12. Rees ended 24-of-41 for 216 yards and the lone touchdown.

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As ugly as this win was for the Fighting Irish, it was that much more brutal a loss for the Panthers. Coach Todd Graham promised he would bring “high octane” offensive football to Pitt. After four games, Pitt fans would settle for some octane on offense, and maybe a little for the defense, too. For the second straight week, the Panthers' defense allowed a struggling quarterback to gather himself and lead a game winning drive in the fourth quarter. With Rees scuffling early, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly leaned on his running game. Gray's aforementioned 79-yard run was Notre Dame's only touchdown until the fourth quarter drive that put the Irish ahead.

The questions about the Pitt secondary persist after yet another quarterback picked it apart with the game on the line. For the season, Pitt opponents are completing 75 percent of their passes in the fourth quarter (50 for 66). All four Pitt opponents have made significant comebacks in the fourth quarter against a secondary that many thought could be the strength of the Panthers' defense. With vastly improved passing attacks at South Florida, Cincinnati, Rutgers and West Virginia as well as emerging pass catching weapons at Louisville, only significant defensive improvement will help the Panthers avoid another disappointing Big East season.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer