Pitt
4-2 , 1-1
Virginia Tech
2-4 , 1-2
Israel Abanikanda Makes History, Pitt Beats Virginia Tech
10/8/2022 8:00:00 PM | Football
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Israel Abanikanda ran for 320 yards to break Tony Dorsett's program record and scored six touchdowns in the Pitt's 45-29 victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday.
Dorsett ran for 303 yards in 1975 against Notre Dame. Abanikanda broke the rushing record with a 6-yard carry in the fourth quarter.
Abanikanda also tied the school and Atlantic Coast Conference records for touchdowns. Norman Budd scored six touchdowns for Pitt against Ohio in 1910.
Abanikanda helped Pitt (4-2, 1-1 ACC) rebound from an ugly home loss last week against a Georgia Tech team that fired its head coach earlier in the week. Abanikanda, the ACC's leading rusher, had his arm in a sling at the end of last week's game against Georgia Tech.
Grant Wells completed 25 passes for 277 yards with a touchdown and interception for Virginia Tech, which was coming off of back-to-back blowout losses against North Carolina and West Virginia. The Hokies (2-4, 1-2) scored 29 points after putting up 20 points total in its two previous contests, the Hokies' worst stretch since 1989.
The Hokies jumped out to an early 16-7 lead, but an offensive lull allowed the Panthers to score the next 24 points. After a second-quarter touchdown, the Hokies punted five times — including four three-and-outs — and threw an interception on their next six drives.
Pitt led 17-16 at halftime and Abanikanda extended the advantage on the Panthers' second drive of the second half. He scored his third touchdown of the game, this one a 29-yard run along the left side to give the Panthers a 24-16 lead. Abanikanda scored his fourth touchdown on the Panthers' next drive, capping a seven-play, 56-yard series, putting Pitt in front, 31-16.
But Virginia Tech rallied. Wells hooked up with Da'Wain Lofton for a 43-yard touchdown and P.J. Prioleau blocked a Pitt punt that was recovered by Nyke Johnson in the end zone. A two-point try failed and Pitt led, 31-29.
The Pitt defense helped Abanikanda find the end zone again.
John Morgan III forced a fumble at midfield, which was recovered by Shayne Simon. Abanikanda scored his fifth touchdown two plays later. He tied the school record for scores with an 80-yard burst up the middle on the Panthers' next drive to seal Pitt's first ACC win of the season.
ABANIKANDA AT IT AGAIN
Abanikanda was the first to score six touchdowns in an ACC game since North Carolina's Kelvin Bryant accomplished the feat on Sept. 12, 1981, vs. East Carolina. He's the first Power 5, BCS player to top 300 yards rushing with six touchdowns since Ricky Williams did it for Texas in 1998.
Abanikanda now has 12 rushing touchdowns this season. He rushed for four touchdowns during a win against Rhode Island last month.
Pitt's No. 2 became the second opponent to rush for at least five touchdowns against Virginia Tech and the first since Miami's Willis McGahee on Dec. 7, 2002.
STRUGGLING IN PITTSBURGH
Virginia Tech is 1-7 in Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium, formerly Heinz Field. Only once in those eight meetings has Pitt scored fewer than 31 points against Virginia Tech.
Dating back to 2001, when both schools were members of the Big East Conference, the Panthers have won 10 of the past 14 games overall against Virginia Tech, including four of the last five.
THE TAKEAWAY
Virginia Tech: After a difficult two-week stretch, the Hokies held an early lead and rallied late against a Pitt team that was ranked earlier this season before ultimately coming up short.
Pitt: The Panthers started slow after a bad loss a week earlier, but Abanikanda rallied his team with a history-making game.
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech: Host Miami on Saturday.
Pitt: Pitt is off next week. The Panthers travel to Louisville on Oct. 22 for their first road game in more than a month.
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Team Stats
VTU 0, PIT 7
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 38 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 12 plays, 95 yards, TOP 05:13
VTU 6, PIT 7
VTU - Thomas,Malachi 5 yd run (), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:03
VTU 9, PIT 7
VTU - Ross,William 18 yd field goal 13 plays, 67 yards, TOP 05:18
VTU 16, PIT 7
VTU - King,Keshawn 19 yd run (Ross,William kick), 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:30
VTU 16, PIT 14
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 17 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:31
VTU 16, PIT 17
PIT - Sauls,Ben 47 yd field goal 5 plays, 27 yards, TOP 01:55
VTU 16, PIT 24
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 29 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 01:40
VTU 16, PIT 31
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 5 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:20
VTU 23, PIT 31
VTU - Lofton,Da'Wain 43 yd pass from Wells,Grant (Ross,William kick) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:04
VTU 29, PIT 31
VTU - Johnson,Nyke 0 yd punt return ()
VTU 29, PIT 38
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 10 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 2 plays, 49 yards, TOP 00:34
VTU 29, PIT 45
PIT - Abanikanda,Israel 80 yd run (Sauls,Ben kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:12
