Record breaking crowd turns out for the return of the Backyard Brawl in Pittsburgh… as a late pick-six sinks West Virginia in front of over 70,000 fans in a stadium that RAN OUT of beer
- Thursday saw the rebirth of a rivalry absent from the NCAA calendar since 2011
- A record crowd – who had trouble finding booze – saw Pittsburgh beat WVU
- Late touchdowns – one, a 24 yard catch, the other a pick-6 – gave the Panthers their first victory over their sworn enemies since 2008
Week 1 of the college football season kicked off with the resurrection of a classic rivalry that’s been dormant for over a decade.
In the first ‘Backyard Brawl’ between the Pittsburgh Panthers and West Virginia Mountaineers since 2011, we saw a record attendance for a Pittsburgh sporting event, a stadium that reportedly ran out of beer, and a wild ending that may have made the wait worth it.
The game kicked off at the newly named Acrisure Stadium – formerly Heinz Field – in Pittsburgh, in front of a crowd of 70,622.
That sets a record for the largest crowd for any game in the city’s long and rich sporting history, beating out Pittsburgh’s professional sports teams including the Steelers, the Pirates, and the Penguins.
Running back Rodney Hammond Jr’s 2 touchdowns helped Pittsburgh win over West Virginia
Georgia transfer QB JT Daniels started – and lost – his first game in a West Virginia uniform
Whether or not those fans were entirely happy is another question, as one reporter documented his struggles to try and find a beer in the newly christened field.
The Athletic’s Sean Gentille reported sights of a man carrying mango White Claws, ‘screaming, “THIS IS ALL THEY HAVE”‘ as he struggled to find a brew.
Beverages or not, those that turned out were treated to an exciting game from beginning to end.
A second half that saw momentum swing like a pendulum back and forth across the crowd and the teams kept everyone in Pittsburgh on their toes.
The pivotal moment of the game came with under 4:00 to play, when running back Israel Abanikanda took a 24 yard catch to the house to tie the game at 31-31.
On the ensuing possession, with 3:15 to play, West Virginia’s new transfer QB JT Daniels threw a perfect pass to receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton.
The ball bounced out of his hands and into the arms of M.J. Devonshire who dodged half the West Virginia offense to return the interception back for a 56-yard touchdown.
Daniels led West Virginia down the field again in his best efforts, alongside an amazing performance from true freshman running back CJ Donaldson – who picked up 125 rushing yards and a touchdown on 7 carries in his college football debut.
A last gasp pass to keep the Mountaineers hopes alive was ruled incomplete and the Panthers won their first Brawl since 2008.
The efforts of M.J. Devonshire (12) and Rodney Hammond Jr (6) won Pitt the game Thursday
A sell-out crowd of over 70,000 broke the record for highest attended Pittsburgh sports event
Pittsburgh Panthers fans went home happy winning their first Backyard Brawl since 2008
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