PITTSBURGH — J.T. Daniels deserved a better fate.
The former Georgia quarterback made his first start since transferring to West Virginia Thursday night against Pittsburgh.
The Panthers edged their rivals for the first time since 2008 after an accurate Daniels pass smacked off the hands of West Virginia’s Bryce Ford-Wheaton and into the hands of Pitt’s MJ Devonshire, who weaved his way through traffic to give the Panthers their second touchdown in 43 seconds to turn a seven-point deficit into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 38-31 victory.
Daniels, looking to revive his career following stints at USC and Georgia, completed 24 of 40 passes for 241 yards with two touchdowns to Ford-Wheaton and the deflected interception that Devonshire turned into Pitt’s first victory over its longtime rivals since 2008.
The Mountaineers drove deep into Pitt territory in the final minute and Daniels hit Reese Smith on a fourth-down fling that appeared to bring the ball to the Pitt 1. But replays showed the ball skimmed the turf before Smith could bring it in and the crowd of 70,622 erupted.
Southern California transfer Kedon Slovis threw for 308 yards and a touchdown in his debut with the Panthers in the opener for both teams. Rodney Hammond ran for 74 yards and two touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter because of a right leg injury that appeared serious.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Freshman running back CJ Donaldson ran for 125 yards for West Virginia as the Mountaineers piled up 190 yards on the ground. Yet fourth-year coach Neal Brown didn’t feel confident enough in his running game to go for it on fourth-and-1 at the Pitt 48 midway through the fourth quarter and his team up 31-24.
Daniels lined up in an effort to draw the Panthers offside and when he didn't, the Mountaineers punted.
Pitt didn’t waste the opportunity. Slovis led the defending ACC champions 92 yards in seven plays, the last on a flip to running back Israel Abanikanda in which he slipped through three tackles for a 24-yard touchdown.
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