Kenny Pickett was cranked to the max on Saturday at Heinz Field as he led the Pitt Panthers to a 55-0 victory over Austin Peay.
The Senior quarterback finished the first quarter completing 6 of 8 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown. The TD came on a connection with DJ Turner over the middle, where Pickett found him wide open at the 31-yard line. This was the Panther’s final score of the 1st quarter, taking a 21-0 lead with 1:36 left on the clock.
Pickett didn’t just do work through the air in the first quarter. He also added a 6-yd rushing TD, which came after a 68-yard completion to Jacques-Louis Shocky, ending the quarter with two carries for 23 yards.
In the 2nd quarter, he completed 8 of 12 passes for 134 yards. The Panthers finished the 1st half five for five on 3rd down conversions, and Pickett converted three. Though he didn’t throw another TD or rush for another, he helped lead Pitt to a 42-0 lead with 2:35 left in the half.
That was the end of the day for Pickett, as Davis Beville entered in relief.
Solid start for Pickett with 277 yards and a TD coming on 14 of 20 passing. Especially considering he was pulled before the first half ended.
Next week we could see more of the same from Pickett as they face Syracuse. The Orange had a rough opening week against UNC, falling 31-6, where they gave up 303 passing yards. However, they did pick off Tar Heel QB Sam Howell twice.
(Image Credit: ACC Athletic Communications)
