Pitt vs. Virginia: The Panthers lead the ACC with their messy win

Rain fell regularly in the Scott Stadium while Pittsburgh started against New No. 25 ranked player Virginia in Charlottesville. It was the fifth rainy game of the Panthers of the season and the night was as sad as it sounds.

The Panthers won 23-13 wins after ordering the second half of the contest. Pitt improved to 5-4 in the season and earned a spot at the top of the CCA's coastal circuit at 4-1 in conference competitions, but the win was more than another goal in the books: was a perfect summary of the Pittsburgh season.

The Panthers seem to have won out of sheer will – not that they did not deserve it, they had certainly seen it considering Virginia's poor quality. But things did not go well for Pitt at first, which was worrying for a team that won tight games despite a solid performance in the first half.

The first part of Virginia set the tone for an unusual first half. The Cavaliers escaped, then recovered their kickoff, then ran eight games for an incredible 10 yards in 4:30 minutes. The Panthers scored the first goal with 6:09 remaining on the first of three touchdowns by senior running back Darrin Hall.

Virginia responded with a rare pass from Bryce Perkins to second-year receiver Terrell Jana for a touchdown. The only score in the second quarter came from Brian Delaney's goal for Virginia and the team left the field for half-time with just three points to score. Pittsburgh followed Virginia 10-7 after half an hour of fouls (11 between the two teams) and slowed down by the rain.

Both teams were very different after the break.

The darker the night, the more the Panthers played hard, but they also played smarter, reacting to their mistakes by collecting the elements. Fewer penalties and a more aggressive defense gave Pittsburgh the power to put an end to Virginia's attack in the third, while adding up 10 points.

As Pitt took control defensively, it provided a space for the offensive to play more aggressively with less pressure. The Panthers took the lead at the end of the third period on a two-yard Hall run for his second touchdown of the night. They then stopped a touchdown by the Cavaliers early in the fourth quarter, forcing Virginia to score a shot on goal and leaving the Perkins team a tie. Hall scored another touchdown in the end zone for Pitt in the next game.

Alex Kessman, the second-year scorer from Pittsburgh, sent a 53-yard goal to perfection, despite a difficult situation. Virginia was way ahead of her 10 points in advance, and the Panthers drew closer to a game closer to a Coastal ACC title. But that did not come properly – anyway.

Pitt – Hall finished with 194 yards rushing and three touchdowns, and the defense only limited Perkins to 205 yards, a touchdown and 35 yards rushing. Quarterback Kenny Pickett orchestrated a low pass game for the Panthers, going 7-of-13 for just 61 yards without a touchdown. His ability to play on the field despite the mud was what diverted the game from Virginia. Pickett was sacked three times as Virginia early exploited the weak points of his offensive line, but the Panthers still managed to win.

This story, the most messy of games in the most chaotic of lectures, defined the 2018 season of Pittburgh.

What may well be the highlight of the Pittsburgh season stands in sharp contrast to his performance against Penn State earlier this season: another muddy mess at mid-storm, but Pitt was not able to return. Nittany Lions 51-6 in a game that would set the bar for the low point of the team. Almost no one would have guessed that the Panthers would run the ACC's shores two months later.

Neither Pitt nor Virginia made an appearance in the ACC championship game. Whoever wins the Friday night match between Coastal ACC contestants, the story would be made. The Panthers still have to face Virginia Tech next weekend to win the division title, but the possibility of an inaugural appearance at the conference championship is now at hand for the program.

The Hokies, who also had a confused season, played in six ACC games after winning the Coastal title. Between Virginia Tech (3-1 ACC) and Miami (2-2 ACC), the conference championship is usually stuck. However, after the total absence of the CCA, this season, things have reversed. Teams previously considered easy victories are now fighting for a division title – like Pittsburgh – but that's where they are growing.

Whoever wins will face the alleged champion of the Atlantic, Clemson, in the match for the VAC title.