Monday, December 31
El Paso, Texas
2 PM ET (Noon, MT)
Pitt
7-7 , 6-2
13
vs
14
Stanford
9-4 , 6-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Stanford
0
7
0
7
14
Pitt
0
10
3
0
13
Photo by: Pete Madia/Pitt Athletics
Pitt Drops Sun Bowl to Stanford, 14-13
12/31/2018 7:25:00 PM | Football
EL PASO, Texas—Stanford rode its luck to defeat Pitt, 14-13, in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso on Monday afternoon in front of a crowd 40,680.
The Cardinal (9-4) were outgained by the Panthers (7-7) by a 344-208 margin but used two long touchdown drives to win the game. Stanford's winning score was also fortunate as running back Cameron Scarlett caught a fumble in the end zone with 11:28 remaining after Pitt's Dewayne Hendrix had knocked the ball loose from Cardinal quarterback K.J. Costello near the goal line.
Pitt's defense dominated much of the game, limiting Stanford to just 12 first downs and just 1-for-10 conversions on third down. The 208 yards allowed by the Panthers were the fourth fewest since head coach Pat Narduzzi took over the program in 2015.
After a scoreless first quarter in which Stanford failed to gain a first down, the Panthers took the lead early in the second period when Alex Kessman converted a 29-yard field goal.
The Cardinal responded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive capped by Scarlett's one-yard run.
However, Pitt immediately answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive with Darrin Hall running in for a six-yard score to put the Panthers ahead 10-7 at the break.
Kessman extended Pitt's lead to 13-7 with the only points of the third quarter before Hendrix's forced fumble somehow fell right into Scarlett's hands to cap an eight-play, 78-yard Stanford drive. Cardinal kicker Jet Toner then converted the extra point that would decide the contest.
Pitt had chances to win its first bowl game since 2013. The Panthers twice punted from Stanford territory in the first half. And in the fourth quarter, Kessman missed a 55-yard field goal that would've put Pitt back in front, while Pitt turned the ball over on downs with 1:40 to play on its final possession.
Senior running back Darrin Hall recorded his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 123 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown in the game.
Defensively, another senior, linebacker Oluwaseun Idowu, led the team with eight total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Sophomore defensive lineman Patrick Jones II posted five tackles, two for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble as Pitt controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the day.
The Cardinal (9-4) were outgained by the Panthers (7-7) by a 344-208 margin but used two long touchdown drives to win the game. Stanford's winning score was also fortunate as running back Cameron Scarlett caught a fumble in the end zone with 11:28 remaining after Pitt's Dewayne Hendrix had knocked the ball loose from Cardinal quarterback K.J. Costello near the goal line.
Pitt's defense dominated much of the game, limiting Stanford to just 12 first downs and just 1-for-10 conversions on third down. The 208 yards allowed by the Panthers were the fourth fewest since head coach Pat Narduzzi took over the program in 2015.
After a scoreless first quarter in which Stanford failed to gain a first down, the Panthers took the lead early in the second period when Alex Kessman converted a 29-yard field goal.
The Cardinal responded with a seven-play, 64-yard drive capped by Scarlett's one-yard run.
However, Pitt immediately answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive with Darrin Hall running in for a six-yard score to put the Panthers ahead 10-7 at the break.
Kessman extended Pitt's lead to 13-7 with the only points of the third quarter before Hendrix's forced fumble somehow fell right into Scarlett's hands to cap an eight-play, 78-yard Stanford drive. Cardinal kicker Jet Toner then converted the extra point that would decide the contest.
Pitt had chances to win its first bowl game since 2013. The Panthers twice punted from Stanford territory in the first half. And in the fourth quarter, Kessman missed a 55-yard field goal that would've put Pitt back in front, while Pitt turned the ball over on downs with 1:40 to play on its final possession.
Senior running back Darrin Hall recorded his eighth career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 123 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown in the game.
Defensively, another senior, linebacker Oluwaseun Idowu, led the team with eight total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Sophomore defensive lineman Patrick Jones II posted five tackles, two for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble as Pitt controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the day.
Team Stats
STAN
UP
Total Yards
208
344
Pass Yards
105
136
Rushing Yards
103
208
Penalty Yards
41
39
1st Downs
12
18
3rd Downs
1
5
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
26:21
33:39
2nd Quarter
STAN 0, UP 3
UP - Kessman, A. 29 yd field goal 6 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:04
STAN 7, UP 3
STAN - Scarlett,C 1 yd run (Toner,J kick), 7 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:00
STAN 7, UP 10
UP - Hall, D. 6 yd run (Kessman, A. kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:07
3rd Quarter
STAN 7, UP 13
UP - Kessman, A. 28 yd field goal 6 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:04
4th Quarter
STAN 14, UP 13
STAN - Scarlett,C 0 yd fumble recovery (Toner,J kick)
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
0
YDS
136
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
PK
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