Pitt surpasses the half-century mark in 55-24 victory against Kent State

Finally, after 3 hours, 26 minutes, 14 carries, 145 yards and the decisive touchdown run in the third quarter, Desmond Reid was stopped in his tracks.

All it took was a question in the postgame news conference after Pitt’s 55-24 opening day victory against Kent State on Saturday in front of a crowd of 44,616 at Acrisure Stadium.

The question: “When was the last time you’ve been caught?”

Usually affable and quick with a comment, the 20-year-old junior running back paused several seconds before answering. It was the only time he slowed down all day.

“I don’t even know. Probably when I was little,” he said with a smile.

Reid’s speed and quarterback Eli Holstein’s decision-making and accuracy made the difference in helping Pitt ring up 570 yards of total offense on 80 snaps in the first look at offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s hurry-up, no-huddle attack. And that total does not count Reid’s 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and the modest contributions he made in the passing game (three catches, 11 yards).

The decisive play surfaced about midway through the third quarter after Kent State, a 24¹⁄₂-point underdog, had trimmed Pitt’s lead to 28-21. Holstein handed off to Reid, who burst through a large hole in the defense and raced untouched into the end zone for a 46-yard score.

That broke the spirit of the Golden Flashes, who were outscored 27-3 in the game’s final 23 minutes, 39 seconds.

“One-on-one with the safety and make him miss,” Reid said in reliving the play. “When I get one-on-one with anybody, shoot, I already know what’s going to happen. That’s me. I’m an explosive person. I like to showcase that. I know me. Once I get past that second level, it’s over.”

Holstein said he was so sure Reid would score that he grabbed offensive tackle Branson Taylor and started celebrating before his teammate crossed the goal line.

“As soon as I handed it off, I knew we were scoring,” he said. “Me and Branson hugged each other and waved bye to Dez. We knew he was going to score. It was awesome.

“Normal day for Desmond Reid. He’s had some better days in practice, honestly. He’s one of the most explosive players I’ve ever practiced with.”

Asked to compare his first major-college game with what he experienced before he transferred from Western Carolina of the FCS, Reid said, “I don’t see no difference, really. Probably the speed, they’re probably a little faster. That’s it.”

Not fast enough, apparently, but Kent State is a Mid-American Conference team that was 1-11 last year and will be one of Pitt’s least challenging opponents of the season.

The victory was tainted a bit by a few items that will trigger plenty of attention Sunday in video review:

• A fumbled punt by Konata Mumpfield that Kent State’s Naim Muhammad returned 34 yards for a touchdown.

• An interception by Holstein among his 40 pass attempts that led to 30 completions for 336 yards and three aerial scores.

• Seven penalties, but only one in the second half and zero of the procedure variety. The latter fact coach Pat Narduzzi proudly proclaimed by making a circle with his thumb and forefinger. The speed, speed, speed offense didn’t get in its own way.

“I thought really all three phases did some good things. All three phases did some stuff we’ve got to clean up,” Narduzzi said. “Opening day issues … guys trying to be aggressive. Too many penalties early in the game. All on us. But overall Game 1, there will be a lot to teach from the video and happy with where we are at this point.”

Holstein was mostly efficient in the passing game, completing his first seven attempts and hitting Kenny Johnson with a 46-yard completion that set up a touchdown on the first Pitt possession. Five Panthers caught at least four passes, including Johnson (seven, 105 yards), Censere Lee (six, 72), tight end Gavin Bartholomew (five, 66), Mumpfield (five, 56) and Poppi Williams (four, 31). Bartholomew caught all five passes with which he was targeted.

Holstein said the first drive in which he threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mumpfield “was a moment.” He said he told himself, “Hey, I’m in college football and I can play. You can do this.”

Holstein threw the most yards by a Pitt redshirt freshman in 35 years, since Alex Van Pelt totaled 366 against West Virginia in 1989.

Asked to comment on Holstein’s day, middle linebacker Brandon George said he had better things to do on the sideline than watch a football game.

“I didn’t get a real good chance to watch him,” he said. “When we come off the field, we make adjustments on the sideline.”

Then, he added with a matter-of-fact statement, “Judging from the scoreboard, I’m guessing he did well.”

Narduzzi wasn’t totally pleased with his defense, even though Pitt held Kent State to 31 net yards rushing. The Golden Flashes came out of intermission with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, quarterback Devin Kargman hitting Chrishon McCray with a 29-yard touchdown pass on their first possession. Suddenly, it was 28-21. Who knew where the game might go?

“I don’t know what they came out in the second half as, but I’ll get on the defensive coaches,” Narduzzi said. “Starts with us as coaches. Make sure (players’) minds are right, and they don’t think the game’s easy and it’s in the bag.”

Kent State averaged less than 1 yard per attempt (counting five sacks), but George, who had a strip sack and a fumble recovery, wasn’t especially impressed.

“In our mindset, that’s not enough. I think we have some cleaning up to do.”

But he couldn’t avoid the obvious.

“We’re back to kind of where we used to be as far as being violent, being aggressive, flying around, to being a bunch of rabid dogs out there on the football field,” he said.