Pittsburgh 31, Georgia Tech 28

The Yellow Jackets were able to run the ball effectively and score a few points.

The result was a 31-28 loss to Pitt on an otherwise lovely sunny day at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are 2-2 and 2-2 against the spread. According to cfbstats.com, that is a first in coach Paul Johnson’s eight-year tenure. The much-improved unit came into Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech ranked seventh in the nation in total defense and sixth against the run. “It looked like what we are used to doing”. You couldn’t tell it until the second half, when the Panthers made a few changes to which the Yellow Jackets never adjusted.

Pitt’s success under first-year head coach has been refreshing and surprising for a program that has consistently been stuck around six games and barely being bowl-eligible for a number of seasons and under a myriad of different head coaches.

GANNON 49, EDINBORO 42 >> In Erie, Edinboro (0-7, 0-4 West) managed to score 22 fourth-quarter points but fell short of the comeback as Gannon (5-2, 2-2) sealed the win by scoring a touchdown with 4:02 to play. “Thirty-one is more than 28”.

Effective downfield blocking. On the first, A-back Mikell Lands-Davis got enough of safety Jevonte Pitts to give Marshall the space to get upfield and turn on his speed. Nine of Georgia Tech’s first 11 offensive plays went for more than 10 yards, including five of at least 29 yards.

Pitt started its winning drive at its own 31 with 8:13 remaining.

Forced to keep pace with a Georgia Tech option offense that ran roughshod over the Pitt defense, the Panthers offense was up to the task.

Blewitt’s kick is the longest field goal in school history, surpassing David Merrick’s 54-yarder against Texas in 1994.

“We all wanted him to have faith in us because we were going to get it”, Peterman said. “Blewitt’s field goal to win it, that’s what you play in these big games for”. Johnson noted that Georgia Tech has been in each game outside of the Clemson game, but simply isn’t making the plays when it needs to. The game will be nationally televised by ESPNU and kick off at noon. Last week, Pittsburgh defeated Virginia behind 222 yards passing and two touchdowns by quarterback Nate Peterman. He also rushed for 26 yards on five carries and chipped in with a nice 29-yard completion, as he was getting hit, to Zach Challingsworth. “We have a few good plays here and there and then we let a few plays go, and we can’t have that. Just (have to) execute a little better”, Johnson said. “And, having said that, we had our chances”.

“We’re trying to work on not being that “almost” type of team”, defensive end KeShun Freeman said. “Our offense did an incredible job, that’s what kept us going”.

Georgia Tech has lost four consecutive games for the first time since 1996. Quarterback Justin Thomas carried 14 times for 95 yards and completed 6 of 16 passes with one interception for 106 yards.

But it wasn’t just the offense that struggled late in the game.