Nate Yarnell impresses in first start, but Pitt loses to No. 17 Clemson as losing streak hits 3
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Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) throws under pressure from Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) and defensive end T.J. Parker (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) celebrates with quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) carries as Pittsburgh linebacker Brandon George, right, reaches in from behind during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson wide receiver Troy Stellato (10) carries as Pittsburgh defensive back Ryland Gandy (10) closes in during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson safety Khalil Barnes (7) celebrates with cornerback Ashton Hampton, left, and linebacker Dee Crayton (22) after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson cornerback Ashton Hampton (23) celebrates after defeating Pittsburgh in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson running back Phil Mafah (7) is hit by Pittsburgh defensive back Tamon Lynum (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) looks to throw during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) celebrates after carrying for a 50-yard touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams (0) catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Pittsburgh defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams (0) catches a pass for a touchdown ahead of defended by Pittsburgh defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh quarterback Nate Yarnell (19) looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson wide receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. (12) carries as he's defended by Pittsburgh defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh running back Daniel Carter (4) carries for a touchdown as Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (9) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) looks to throw during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) gets past Pittsburgh defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) as he carries for a 50-yard touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
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Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi reacts to a call during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
PITTSBURGH — Cade Klubnick wanted to get out of bounds. Needed to get out of bounds.
The clock was running. Clemson was trailing Pittsburgh, and all of the Tigers' timeouts were gone. So the junior quarterback broke into the secondary on a designed run and then veered right for the safety of the sideline.
Klubnick never got there. He never had to. A well-timed block from wide receiver T.J. Moore gave Klubnick a lane that offered nothing but green grass and victory. Klubnick's instincts led him to cut up the field for a go-ahead 50-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 16 seconds remaining that lifted the 17th-ranked Tigers past the Panthers 24-20 Saturday.
“It doesn't feel real in a moment like that," Klubnick said. “You're just like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m loose.' Those last 15-20 yards was a crazy feeling for sure.”
Klubnick's dash kept Clemson's outside hopes of reaching the ACC title game alive. The Tigers (8-2, 7-1 ACC) need No. 12 Miami to lose one of its final two games or No. 14 SMU to drop its last two contests to reach the championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.
The Tigers needed Klubnick's heroics after the Panthers (7-3, 3-3) dominated the second half. Pitt erased a 10-point deficit to take the lead late behind an 11-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Nate Yarnell to Gavin Bartholomew with 7:05 to play and Ben Sauls' 47-yard field goal with 1:36 left.
Yarnell finished with 350 yards passing while filling in for injured starter Eli Holstein, but his 55th and last pass attempt fell into the arms of Clemson's Khalil Barnes just in front of the goal line as time expired.
“He made some great throws,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said of Yarnell. “I don’t like the eight sacks. Is that on him? Is that on the O-line?”
Either way, the Panthers will have to figure it out soon if they want to finish their season on a high note. Pitt has dropped three straight since a 7-0 start, though a moment to add a signature win to a promising season seemed at hand when running back Desmond Reid (176 total yards) helped put the Panthers in position late.
Pitt however, gave Klubnick and the Tigers a little too much time.
“We never flinched,” Klubnick said. “You know (time is running out but) we knew what we could do. We just had to go do it.”
Pitt: The Panthers played with passion if not precision. It cost them in the end. Pitt was penalized 13 times for 100 yards. The most damaging flags came early in the fourth quarter when a first-and-goal from inside the Clemson 5 turned into a short field goal by Sauls after illegal formation, delay of game and false start penalties.
Don't expect the Tigers to move up too much in either the AP Top 25 or the CFP ranking (they were 20th this week) after struggling to do much of anything over the final 30 minutes against Pitt.
Pitt travels to No. 22 Louisville next Saturday.
