Pitt Football: 3 takeaways from overtime win over North Carolina

Pitt football’s 30-23 overtime victory against North Carolina was a tale of two halves.

This game looked like a blowout after the first quarter. Give credit to the Tar Heel defense, make adjustments, and keep North Carolina in football. The Panthers gained more yards in the first quarter than they did the rest of the game. The Tar Heels shut out the Panthers in the second half as well.

Sam Howell and the Tar Heels continued to scratch and claw their way back into the game and force overtime. Howell drove North Carolina deep into Pitt territory, but the Panther defense bowed up and held the Tar Heels to a field goal.

Kenny Pickett was solid, throwing for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Pickett’s counterpart Same Howell might not have the number Pickett had, but he and the Tar Heels found a way to get back into the game.

Here are three more takeaways from this evening’s game.

3. Why not run the football more?

Pitt ran the ball reasonably well despite getting shut out in the second half. It was baffling the Panthers did not run the football more, especially late in the game with a lead. North Carolina does not defend the run that well and Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda was running the football well.

The North Carolina Tar Heels were not stellar offensively and running the football in the fourth quarter could have kept the defense fresh and helped shorten the game for Pitt. Abanikanda averaged 5.3 yards per rush in this game, but offensive coordinator Mark Whipple kept going to Pickett.

The offensive line did not protect Kenny Pickett well tonight, allowing four sacks and a host of pressures. More commitment to running the football could have helped Pitt close the game and not go to overtime.