Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi defended his resolution to kick a area objective throughout the Panthers’ 48-46 six-overtime loss to Toledo in Thursday’s GameAbove Sports activities Bowl. Trailing 40-37 within the second time beyond regulation, the Panthers confronted fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line. Fairly than try a game-winning landing, Narduzzi despatched kicker Ben Sauls onto the sector for an 18-yard attempt that pressured a 3rd additional interval.
“Fourth-and-1, if you do not get it, you lose the sport,” Narduzzi instructed reporters after the sport. “I do not need it to finish like that. I need our youngsters to make performs. I wish to put it within the youngsters’ palms. For a coach to decide to win the sport or lose the sport, I’m not for that.”
As soon as a recreation reaches a 3rd time beyond regulation, faculty soccer guidelines dictate that groups commerce 2-point conversion makes an attempt till a winner is set. Each groups transformed within the subsequent three overtimes, setting a bowl document for essentially the most additional frames at six. Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason linked with Junior Vandeross III to open the sixth time beyond regulation, and Pitt freshman quarterback Julian Dugger’s subsequent cross fell incomplete, sealing the win for the Rockets.
Panthers beginning quarterback Eli Holstein missed the sport with a leg harm, and backup Nate Yarnell was now not on the roster after coming into the switch portal. That left third-string redshirt freshman David Lynch to begin. Lynch struggled, throwing two interceptions, which led to Dugger making his faculty debut within the second half. Dugger led the Panthers on two second-half scoring drives, turning a 20-12 deficit right into a 30-20 lead.
Toledo rallied late within the fourth quarter, capitalizing on Darius Alexander’s 58-yard pick-six and a tying 51-yard area objective from Dylan Cunanan with 1:58 left. Gleason completed 26 of fifty for 336 yards and two touchdowns.
After a 7-0 begin to the season, Thursday’s loss was the sixth straight for the Panthers, marking the longest skid in Narduzzi’s tenure. Narduzzi is now 2-5 in bowl video games as Pitt’s coach.
Whereas Pitt dropped to 7-6 with the loss, Toledo completed 8-5.
