Pitt Completes Miraculous Second Half Comeback Against Cincinnati

CINCINNATI — Another year, another failed, late-game come — no, wait, here comes Ben Sauls.

Sauls trotted out for a 35-yard field goal attempt with 23 seconds left, and unlike last season, his conversion allowed Pitt to complete a miraculous second half comeback to knock off Cincinnati, 28-27, at Nippert Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Holstein was cool and composed against Kent State; he was any but against Cincinnati — through the large part of three quarters.

Holstein threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns in the second half, Reid was an all-around monster in dragging Pitt back from the brink and Konata Mumpfield hauled in two touchdown passes of his own. Pitt did just enough to secure a huge, come-from-behind win. But it was oh so close.

A 26-yard field goal from Cincinnati kicker Carter Brown pushed the Bearcats’ lead to 21 points late in the third quarter, and the Panthers appeared to be fading.

Holstein was struggling mightily. The defense was having a hard time stopping Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby through the air — and the Bearcats on the run. It looked bleak.

But Holstein, to his credit, battled. And it’s a damn good thing that Desmond Reid got off the bus Saturday morning.

Reid was electric on two Pitt touchdown drives as the Panthers drove 75 yards to cut the deficit to 14 at the end of the third quarter (a 5-yard Konata Mumpfield touchdown catch) and 82 yards to cut the lead to eight points (a 38-yard Mumpfield touchdown catch). A defensive stop gave Pitt the ball back with 7:44 remaining in the game, trailing by a touchdown and a two-point conversion.

And there went Reid again, racing 56 yards to the end zone on a quick crosser over the middle. But, once again, the two-point conversion failed.

So, Pitt trailed 27-25 with 5:40 left in the game. Another defensive stop. Pitt received the ball at its own 20 with 2:38 on the clock. All three timeouts and the two-minute warning at its disposal — and Pitt delivered, driving the length of the field to set up the game-winning kick.

But it certainly wasn’t easy-going. It was clear that Holstein didn’t have early.

If there’s one thing you can’t do on a team led by Pat Narduzzi, it’s turn the ball over. And when Holstein took a deep shot to Kenny Johnson in the end zone early in the first quarter, overlooking Cincinnati safety Josh Minkins Jr. as the corner’s deep help, his ball was hauled in by Minkins.

And Cincinnati cashed in on the mistake.

A beautiful rainbow throw down the sideline from Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby was hauled in by wideout Jamoi Mayes, who tight-roped down the sideline for a 52-yard touchdown.

As the pass rush continued to get stone-walled inside and out, Sorbsy stood in the pocket and delivered another deep strike down the sideline — hitting wideout Xzavier Henderson for a 33-yard gain. Sorsby hit wideout Tony Johnson in the back of the end zone a couple of plays later. 14-3, Cincy.

An overturned Ryland Gandy interception could’ve spelled the end for Pitt, staring down a potential 21-3 deficit, but the defense held. A 49-yard field goal from Cincy kicker Carter Brown pushed the Bearcats’ lead to just 14 points. The Panthers’ defense held again at the end of the first half, turning a 1st-and-10 at the Pitt 11 into a missed 25-yard field goal.

And Pitt finally gained some momentum of its own, driving 45 yards to set up a 53-yard field goal attempt. Sauls knocked it through to end the half.

It didn’t last the halftime break.

Pitt turned the ball over on its first possession of the second half; Cincinnati drove down the field for a touchdown on its next possession. And while the Bearcats didn’t score on their next offensive possession, they did nail another field goal. With a 27-6 deficit, Pitt needed a spark.

It got the spark it needed. And the Panthers left the field at Nippert Stadium with a huge non-conference win.

Pitt returns home next weekend to host West Virginia in the 107th Backyard Brawl. The Brawl is scheduled to kick off at Acrisure Stadium at 3:30 p.m.