Scott all business with three sacks against Cal
by Bo Marchionte
Published October 12, 2024, 08:07 PM
Pittsburgh, PA – The Pitt Panthers’ defense was instrumental in their narrow 17-15 victory over California, extending their undefeated streak to 6-0. Despite offensive struggles, particularly with quarterback Eli Holstein throwing two interceptions and the offense stalling after the second quarter.
“Definitely says a lot about the team,” redshirt sophomore defensive end Jimmy Scott. “Honestly because we really didn’t expect much coming into it, but, you know, it was a dogfight at the end.”
The defense stepped up with a season-high six sacks, including three from Scott. Five of those sacks came in the second half, providing crucial pressure on Cal’s quarterback Fernando Mendoza. Scott led the way with three sacks as the team combined for six sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
“I think it was the secondary,” Scott said. “I was telling the guys in the locker room, like you guys take away that first read. So, I think that’s the best to sum it up right there.”
Summing it up, Pittsburgh played a hard-fought contest. It wasn’t a game where quarterback Eli Holstein was slicing defenses with one of college football’s most potent passing attacks.
Averaging over 310 yards per game (313.4) prior to playing Cal, Holstein had his troubles against the Bears defense and complimented Cal’s ability to execute their game plan while criticizing himself for not playing up to the level expected.
“I played like a freshman today,” Holstein said after going 14-of-28 for 133 yards passing along with two inceptions, giving him four on the entire season. “That’s a great defense we played right there.
“I mean they played every coverage in the book. They gave me different looks. You know, it was hard to really tell, like, what they were playing in certain situations. One of the top defenses in the country for a reason.”
Pitt was averaging over 20 points in their margin of victory in their first five games, tonight in front of a lively home crowd of 49,773, the Panthers were able to battle a tough Cal team and prevail by just two points.
Cal elected to go for two on the game’s first touchdown and failed in their attempt to convert on the play. It would come back to haunt them later, after their second touchdown they tried again and failed again on another two-point attempt.
In hindsight, those likely makeable extra points would have had the game tied late in the fourth quarter, rather the Bears were forced to get their kicker Ryan Coe in position to win the game with 1:50 remaining.
With the football snapped on the 22-yard line of Pitt, Coe attempted to connect from 40 yards out, but what appeared to be a bad snap led to the football going wide right.
The game was tense, with Pitt holding on to a slim lead. The Bearst final possession stalled deep in their own territory. The defense’s resilience, particularly on Cal’s two failed two-point conversion attempts, proved decisive in securing the win.
It’s the Panthers first 6-0 start since 1982 and shows a tremendous turnaround from last year when the team started off 2-4 before finishing the season with 3-9 record. Pitt will play its next game on a Thursday night at home against Syracuse.
