Eli Holstein threw four touchdown passes as host Pitt pounded Duquesne 61-9 in the first meeting in 86 years between teams that reside in the same city Saturday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
The first points came on Desmond Reid’s 88-yard punt return after Pitt’s defense held Duquesne on the game’s opening possession. The Panthers poured it on for most of the rest of the way, leading 34-6 at halftime.
Holstein, who emerged last year as Pitt’s starter, went 15-for-23 for 215 yards and an interception.
Cataurus Hicks caught two touchdown passes and Kenny Johnson and Malachi Thomas each grabbed one TD pass from Holstein before backup Cole Gonzales threw a 60-yard TD pass to Bryce Yates. Reid also was Pitt’s top rusher with 66 yards on eight carries.
Tyler Riddell threw for 154 yards and one touchdown on 14-for-23 passing for Duquesne. B.J. Alexander caught the scoring pass on a 7-yard play, though Joey Isabella led the Dukes with 120 yards on eight receptions.
Pitt’s defense recorded 10 tackles for loss, including four sacks.
Pitt used 11 plays to cover 62 yards as nearly five minutes went off the clock on its first scoring drive, while the other possessions didn’t take nearly as long. Only one other touchdown drive involved more than two minutes.
Thirteen different players made at least one reception for the Panthers, who improved to 11-0 all-time vs. Football Championship Subdivision opponents under coach Pat Narduzzi.
Pitt scored three touchdowns in the final 9 1/2 minutes of the first half, capped by Holstein’s 16-yard connection with Hicks with 48 seconds left before halftime.
Reid ran for a 53-yard touchdown on the second snap of the second half. Holstein threw his last scoring strike to Thomas for 34 yards with 3:14 to play in the third quarter.
Pitt’s Trey Butkowski kicked two 27-yard field goals in the fourth quarter.
Pitt leads the all-time series 6-2.
–Field Level Media
