Inside The Panthers

Former Pitt QB Ben DiNucci Makes Highlight Play in XFL Debut

Former Pitt Panthers quarterback Ben DiNucci returned to professional football in style.
Stephen Thompson|
Former Pitt QB Ben DiNucci Makes Highlight Play in XFL Debut
Former Pitt QB Ben DiNucci Makes Highlight Play in XFL Debut

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Pittsburgh Panthers

PITTSBURGH -- If nothing else, former Pitt Panthers quarterback Ben DiNucci always had a flare for the dramatic. After spending two years away from professional football, the former Pitt and Dallas Cowboys part-time starter made his XFL debut in style. 

The connection between DiNucci and former NFL star wideout Josh Gordon was expected to be one of the most dangerous combinations in the XFL this season and power the Seattle Dragons to league prominence. It looked like that would be the case on the Dragons' first drive of the season, when DiNucci completed a Patrick Mahomes-like flip to Gordon, who made an impressive contested catch in the front corner of the endzone. 

The Dragons jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and led 18-8 before DiNucci surrendered a pick six on Seattle's second to last drive of the third quarter. The Seattle offense then turned the ball over three times in the fourth quarter and lost, 22-18, to the DC Defenders at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. in their season-opening game. 

DiNucci completed 34 of 52 passes for 282 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the defeat. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

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