2020 Pitt Football Game Notes Heinz Field • Saturday, September 12, 2020 Game 1 • Pitt 55, Austin Peay 0 Team • The University of Pittsburgh opened its 131st season of college football with a shortened 55-0 shutout victory over Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) foe Austin Peay on Saturday evening at Heinz Field. • The Panthers (1-0) improved to 18-1 against FCS opponents. Pat Narduzzi is now 5-1 in season openers at Pitt. • After Pitt stormed out to a 42-0 lead at halftime, the teams agreed to play 10-minute quarters in the second half. • The Panthers recorded their first shutout since beating Delaware 62-0 at Heinz Field on Aug. 30, 2014. That game was also the last time that Pitt led 42-0 at halftime. • Five Panthers scored a rushing TD in a game for the first time since the 76-61 win over Syracuse on Nov. 26, 2016. Daniel Carter, Kenny Pickett, Vincent Davis, Israel Abanikanda and Todd Sibley Jr. each rushed for a score. • Pitt outgained Austin Peay, 456-139, in the game. The Panthers boasted a 420-92 yardage edge in the first half. • The Panthers won the turnover battle, 3-0. Kenny Pickett • Only playing in the first half, Pitt senior quarterback Kenny Pickett was excellent in his limited reps. • Pickett completed 14-of-20 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown, compiling a passer rating of 202.8. • Three of Pickett’s passes resulted in 50+ yard gains for the Panthers. He connected on a 51-yard TD to DJ Turner, while Shocky Jacques-Louis and Jaylon Barden both had 68-yard receptions that didn’t result in scores. • Pickett also rushed for 23 yards on two carries, including a 6-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Offense • Freshman running back Daniel Carter scored a 1-yard touchdown on his first career carry to open the scoring. • True freshman wide receiver Jordan Addison finished with a team-high seven receptions for 35 yards in his debut. • Maryland grad transfer receiver DJ Turner made an instant impact, tallying two catches, 75 yards and a 51-yard TD. • Redshirt freshmen quarterbacks Davis Beville and Joey Yellen both made their Pitt debuts in relief. • A total of 10 different Panthers recorded a reception during the game, including six players making their Pitt debuts. • In total, freshmen accounted for 12 of Pitt’s 19 receptions in the contest. • Pitt gave five running backs multiple carries. Sophomore Vincent Davis led the way with 43 yards on 11 attempts. • Vincent Davis also scored two rushing touchdowns, his first career multi-TD game for the Panthers. Defense • Junior safety Paris Ford recorded an interception on the opening series of the game, his fourth career INT. • Sophomore safety Erick Hallett also pulled in his first career interception in the contest. • True freshman defensive end Dayon Hayes made his collegiate debut and tallied two solo sacks. • Hayes also forced a fumble for the first time in his career, with sophomore Noah Palmer earning his first recovery. • A total of 18 Panthers made multiple tackles in the game, with no Pitt player finishing with more than three tackles. Special Teams • Todd Sibley Jr. blocked a punt and returned it for an 11-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was Pitt’s first blocked punt since Wendell Davis blocked a punt against Delaware on Sept. 28, 2019. It was the first punt return touchdown of any kind for the Panthers since Wendell Davis scored an 18-yard return against UCF on Sept. 21, 2019 after Aaron Mathews had blocked a punt. .