West Virginia Blows Late Lead, Falls Victim to Panthers in Backyard Brawl

PITTSBURGH – The 107th edition of the Backyard Brawl endured a bit of a feeling out process early on, but then opened up and never looked back on a beautiful September day in Pittsburgh.

WVU quarterback Garrett Greene found running back CJ Donaldson open and he ran in for a 10-yard score. Following a successful extra point, the Mountaineers claimed an early 7-0 lead. But Pitt would eventually steal that momentum and take a lead of their own.

The Panthers had to settle for a field goal after losing what they thought was a touchdown pass on review, but would eventually test the West Virginia secondary through the air and find pay dirt themselves.

However, the Mountaineers didn’t let a brief deficit phase them and capped off a long drive with a short Jahiem White touchdown run. West Virginia then led 14-10 early in the second quarter.

Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein eventually found Desmond Reid for a Panther touchdown following a couple prior failed attempts to open receivers.

But it was while trailing 17-14 late in the first half, that Greene made that mistake that can kill any team in a rivalry game. Cruce Brookins picked off Greene to ignite the Pitt crowd and hand the ball back to the Panther offense to build on their advantage.

WVU head coach Neal Brown decides against going for a fourth and one in the final second of the half and sends Michael Hayes out to tie the game at 17 with a 44-yard field goal.

The second half then opened with a turn of events that would set a completely different tone. First, WVU punter Oliver Straw read the coverage and kept the ball to covert a fourth down. But after Greene’s bomb to Hudson Clement was called back due to an offsides, Pitt snatched momentum back by scooping up Straw’s punt and scoring that non offensive touchdown both teams were looking for.

Greene then kept spirits alive for the Mountaineers by completing a 44-yard reception to Jaden Bray and getting WVU into scoring position. West Virginia accomplished an absolute must-TD off a short run from Donaldson.

As it often does, the Backyard Brawl was living up the hype tied at 24 in the third quarter.

WVU managed to get out in front with a field goal. Clement couldn’t pull in a would-be touchdown pass from Greene on a third down before the short field goal.

One of West Virginia’s transfer wide receivers Justin Robinson made a highlight reel worthy catch to extend the advantage late in the fourth quarter. Robinson’s catch went for 28 yards and put West Virginia up by two scores with just over four minutes left in the game.

Bu Pitt was not dead yet. Holstein threw up a ball that was caught by Deion Reynolds in the end zone to keep everyone sweating and move the score to 34-31.

Like so many in the past century plus, 2024 Backyard Brawl went down to the wire as Pitt had the ball with about two minutes on the clock.

Pitt sliced up a weak WVU secondary and took a 37-34 lead with 32 seconds left. Several misfired passes later and the Panthers won the game, 38-34.

West Virginia dipped to 1-2 with a tough conference slate starting with Kansas back at home next week on deck.