PLAYERS TO WATCH
–RB Darrin Hall, normally the second fiddle to Qadree Ollison, posted a season-high in rushing yards against Virginia by racking up 229 on 19 carries with three touchdowns. The senior’s efforts earned him ACC Player of the Week and Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week honors.
–DL Dewayne Hendrix, with 2.5 sacks last week, proved to be a difference-maker against Virginia. The 6-foot-4 senior had four tackles against the Cavaliers and brought his sack tally to three on the season. “Dewayne is always listening, nicest kid in the world, listening what everybody has to say,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “He went off leading. We talk about seniors leading. Every game, I think he’s feeling confident enough, well enough in what’s going on, he’s now stepping up and saying stuff, which is awesome. That’s what he needs to do.”
–DB Damar Hamlin, a junior in-state product, has had at least nine tackles in three of the last four games, coinciding with Pittsburgh’s turnaround. Against Virginia, he had nine tackles, with eight of them being solo stops. He also defended a pass against the Cavaliers.
–QB Kenny Pickett is becoming more of a game-manager as the Panthers establish themselves as a run-first team. Against Virginia, Pickett was 7-of-14 passing for just 61 yards. Nobody on the Panthers’ roster had more than one catch. “When you run the ball as effectively as we are right now, you hope you have some bigger shots, big plays in the pass game,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “We’re not getting those. We still need to be more explosive in the pass game, period, to get where we want to go.”
SERIES HISTORY: Virginia Tech leads the series over Pittsburgh 10-7. The Hokies have won the previous two meetings, while the Panthers hold a 5-4 all-time advantage at home.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It will be a challenge. They’ll always play us up. They like to pack it in the box. We like to put them in the box. It’s going to be a smash-mouth football game.” — Pat Narduzzi on Virginia Tech’s defense
