Pitt's Defense Shines as Gold Team Wins Spring Game

The Gold Team defeated the Blue Team in the Pitt Panthers Spring Game

Tennessee running back Jaylen Wright (20) is tackled by Pittsburgh linebacker Brandon George (30) / Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers completed their spring seasonw ith the Spring Game on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium, with the Gold Team coming out with the 17-10 win.

The Gold Team took the lead on the first drive, thanks to redshirt freshman place kicker Sam Carpenter completing a 44-yard field goal. Alabama transfer and redshirt freshman quarterback Eli Holstein completed 3-of-8 passes for 40 yards on the drive.

On the second drive for the Blue Team, they made progress, but Gold Team fifth-year defensive end Dayon Hayes forced redshirt freshman wide receiver Zion Fowler-El to fumble it for a large loss. Redshirt junior Elliot Donald and freshman linebacker Jeremiah Marcelin also made sacks on the drive to force a punt.

Holstein, on the ensuing drive, threw a pass that sophomore wide receiver Kenny Johnson tipped right into the hands of redshirt junior defensive back Javon McIntyre, setting the Blue Team up in good field position.

Penalties forced the Blue Team to settle for a field goal, with redshirt senior place kicker Ben Sauls converting from 50-yards to tie the game at 3-3.

Holstein, who had nine straight incompletions, put together a great final drive. He completed seven of his 10 passes for 91 yards, culminating in a six-yard touchdown pass to sixth year running back Daniel Carter, giving the Gold Team a 10-3 lead at halftime.

Redshirt freshman Ty Dieffenbach came in for Holstein and completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Johnson to extend the advantage to 17-3.

The Blue Team didn't give up, as redshirt junior Nate Yarnell came back in for struggling redshirt junior Christian Veilleux. He threw a beautiful ball over the middle, right into the path of a sprinting redshirt freshman wide reciever Lamar Seymore, to cut the lead to 17-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Freshman quarterback Julian Duggar, who starred at nearby Penn Hills High School, came in for the Blue Team, but was unable to make a true difference, turning it over on downs, giving the Gold Team the win.

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