Brendan Motley was sacked seven times and threw three interceptions, and Pitt limited Virginia Tech to 100 yards of total offense, as the Panthers topped the Hokies, 17-13, Saturday in rainy Blacksburg, Va.
Virginia Tech (2-3, 0-1 ACC) was able to hang around despite being dominated at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Pitt (3-1, 1-0 ACC) got 166 yards on the ground, including 122 yards on 19 carries from freshman Qadree Ollison.
Sixty-eight of Ollison’s yards came on back-to-back plays to start the third quarter. The Panthers led 10-7 at the half, and on their first play from scrimmage in the second half got a 43-yard run by Ollison to move the ball into Tech territory. Ollison rambled in from 25 yards on the next play to push the score to 17-7.
An Ollison fumble led to a Joey Slye 43-yard field goal with 6:03 to go in the third that pulled the Hokies to 17-10. Slye connected from 50 yards with 13:20 to go in the game to cap an 11-play, 50-yard drive, cutting the Tech deficit to 17-13.
Motley threw two interceptions in the fourth quarter, the first setting up Pitt at the Hokies 25 with 6:20 to go. Virginia Tech got the defensive stop and forced a Chris Blewitt 42-yard field-goal attempt, which was blocked by Vinny Mihota.
The Pitt D forced a Tech three-and-out, and after the Hokies defense got another stop that set the offense up with a first-and-10 at their own 38, there was a glimmer of hope for the faithful.
It would soon be extinguished, as Motley was sacked twice, then threw an interception on fourth down, allowing Pitt to run out the clock.
Motley finished 9-of-21 passing for 91 yards and a touchdown.
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