Six Winners in Pitt's Victory Over Western Michigan
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The Pitt Panthers move to 2-1 after a win in Kalamazoo over the Western Michigan Broncos. It was much tighter than anticipated for most of the ballgame, but with a new quarterback in and some big injuries coming at inopportune times, the blue and gold held strong to walk out winners in Week 3.
Here's who shined the brightest for Pitt.
Nate Yarnell
The redshirt freshman (at least from the outside) was a true game-time decision for the Panthers but filled his role perfectly. Pitt wanted to win on the ground and through their defense, and did both. But when Yarnell needed to make a play, he did, while also showing off his deep ball skills.
Yarnell hit Jared Wayne twice for sideline bombs that fell into the bread basket like the two have been doing it their whole lives together.
For someone who walked into the game not starting a game in two years, Yarnell didn't blink an eye. An easy winner, and someone Pitt will look at when trying to decide on a quarterback next season.
Israel Abanikanda
The plan for Pitt was to put the ball in Abanikanda's hands and let him win the football game. He did just yet, and never batted an eye despite running the ball 31 times.
The Panthers can always rely on their running back, and with Rodney Hammond dealing with an ankle injury, Abanikanda took on a huge role in this game.
Pitt's star running back seems to be overlooked amongst college football backs, but in the city and within this fanbase, everyone knows that Abanikanda can go out and do anything you ask of him.
Jared Wayne
Before exiting the game with an injury in the first half, Wayne had three receptions for 94 yards and was Yarnell's favorite target on the field.
Wayne continues to prove that he's the savvy veteran who can be anyone's go-to on the field. Replacing Jordan Addison seemed to fall on his shoulders when the news broke, and he's never looked down on that opportunity.
No one knows the extent of Wayne's injury just yet, but if he returns, he could be getting his feet wet for another major season, especially if he and the quarterbacks can continue their deep ball success.
Marquis Williams
Williams was another injury that happened after a huge first half.
The redshirt senior found the endzone for the game's first touchdown and seemed fired up in the first quarter.
He eventually left in the first half with a foot/shin injury and did not return. He's impacted all three of the Panthers' games so far, and this team wants him back on the field moving forward. Pitt is hoping the injury isn't serious enough to keep him, or his playmaking, sidelined.
Erick Hallett
Once Williams left, Hallet took over as the playmaker on defense. The safety finished the game with two interceptions, including one in the endzone that would've tied the game if caught by the offense.
Hallett spoke the week of the game about how he still thought about last year's loss and how he wanted to quiet the crowd in Western Michigan.
With the game on the line, he did just that. Twice.
Offensive Line
The offensive line was told to run block as hard as possible and make sure your redshirt freshman quarterback doesn't have pressure. Outside of a sack, they did everything to perfection.
This group has progressed through the three weeks of the season. It wasn't very notable against West Virginia, but took a step forward against Tennessee and another huge step against Western Michigan.
This upperclassmen group of big men needs to be the building blocks of the Panthers' offense. They were just that on the way to 238 rushing yards.
Vincent Davis
Everyone all night long was waiting for Abanikanda to break a big run, but every time someone exploded through the line of scrimmage, it was Davis.
Davis stepped into a bigger role in the absence of Hammond and has made the most of it. He finished the night with 11 rushes for 83 yards and was the change-of-pace back for the Panthers all game long.
Pitt loves to run the football, it's no secret. With Abanikanda taking on such a large workload, don't be surprised to see Davis more involved moving forward.
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