Recap: Florida State Wins Momentum Battle, Downs Pitt

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The debate over momentum’s impact on football has been around as long as the game itself. If there were ever a case for its importance, Friday night’s meeting between Pitt and Florida State provided plenty of evidence.

Neither side could hold onto it for long, and the margin for error was slim.

In the end, Florida State seized enough of it to escape Acrisure Stadium with a 16-10 win.

Midway through the first quarter, after the teams exchanged punts, Florida State got the first opportunity to strike.

Quarterback Ashton Daniels connected with wide receiver Micahi Danzy for a 12-yard gain, and a late hit on Daniels tacked on another 15 yards to push the Seminoles into Pitt territory.

Florida State reached the Pitt 19 before the drive stalled. Kicker Gabe Panikowski connected on a 37-yard field goal to open the scoring.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has been shuffling quarterbacks since Mason Heintschel suffered a season-ending injury against Virginia Tech on Oct. 3.

Fifth-year senior Holden Geriner was a game-time decision but could not go, leaving freshman Corey Dailey to make his second career start.

For Dailey, it was a baptism by fire early, as the Panthers sputtered to just 63 first-quarter yards.

Florida State mounted another sustained drive in the second quarter. Facing second-and-10 at his own 21, Daniels absorbed the pass rush and found running back Amari Thomas on a screen for a 16-yard gain.

Later in the possession, Daniels delivered the game’s first explosive pass, connecting with wide receiver Jasen Lopez for 46 yards on third down to put the Seminoles at the Pitt 10.

But momentum was fleeting. The Panthers stiffened near the goal line, forcing Florida State to settle for another Panikowski field goal, this time from 27 yards, to go ahead 6-0.

Pitt needed an answer and found one with a 10-play, 85-yard touchdown drive. Freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. broke loose for 24 yards before Dailey found wide receiver Malik Knight for a 28-yard gain.

Dailey capped the possession with an 11-yard touchdown pass to running back Ja’Kyrian Turner, giving the Panthers a slim 7-6 lead they carried into the locker room.

Florida State’s defense needed an impact play after the break and delivered one on Pitt’s first possession.

On second down in Pitt territory, Dailey’s pass floated toward defensive end Rylan Kennedy, who came away with his first career interception.

The Seminoles took advantage of the short field. Thomas opened the drive with a 16-yard run and finished it with a one-yard touchdown, putting Florida State ahead 13-7.

Later in the third quarter, Florida State punter Daniel Hughes, who had struggled throughout the night, shanked a 21-yard punt to give Pitt favorable field position.

Dailey immediately went to work, finding Knight for 22 yards to move the Panthers into Seminoles territory. He followed with an 18-yard completion to Censere Lee that brought Pitt to the Florida State 12.

Just as the Panthers appeared poised to reclaim the lead, the Seminoles stiffened, holding Pitt to a field goal that cut the deficit to 13-10.

Florida State delivered another major defensive stop in the final seconds of the third quarter, stuffing Panthers wide receiver Demetrice McCray for no gain on fourth down to take over at the Pitt 42.

A 15-yard reverse by Danzy positioned the Seminoles to extend their lead. Instead, momentum swung sharply back toward Pitt when Daniels fumbled deep in Panthers territory and defensive back Shawn Lee Jr. recovered.

Florida State’s defense then threatened to undo its own work.

Dailey nearly gave the ball right back, but safety CJ Richard Jr. dropped an interception. Later in the drive, with the Seminoles seemingly off the field, linebacker Chris Jones was called for targeting, keeping Pitt’s possession alive. Jones finished with seven tackles.

Pitt eventually tried its luck on another fourth down. This time, Florida State linebacker Caleb LaVallee, in for Jones, delivered a critical sack.

The Seminoles moved to the Pitt 29, setting up Panikowski’s 47-yard field goal, his third of the night, to stretch the lead to 16-10.

The win keeps Florida State’s bowl hopes alive, improving the Seminoles to 5-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC. They need one victory in their final two games to reach six wins.

Florida State improved to 6-7 all-time against Pitt and earned its third consecutive win in Pittsburgh, a streak dating to 2013.

The Seminoles return to Doak Campbell Stadium next week to face ACC opponent NC State at 3:30 PM (Eastern).