Eli Holstein powers Pitt past struggling North Carolina for first 5-0 start since 1991
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North Carolina head coach Mack Brown, left, watches the replay on the scoreboard as officials review the play after Pittsburgh stopped North Carolina on fourth down to cause a turnover on downs during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh head coach Pat Narduzzi walks the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina tight end John Copenhaver (81) pulls in a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh defensive back Cruse Brookins (12) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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The Pittsburgh defense celebrates after it stopped North Carolina on fourth down to cause a turnover on downs during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (9) trips up North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) on fourth down to cause a turnover on downs during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein (10) looks to pass as he is pressured by North Carolina defensive lineman Joshua Harris (6) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh running back Desmond Reid (0) dives to get the ball into the end zone for a touchdown against North Carolina during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein (10) runs thru a hole between North Carolina defensive lineman Travis Shaw, left, and defensive lineman Kevin Hester Jr. (98) during an the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina head coach Mack Brown watches the team warm up before an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) rolls out as offensive lineman Howard Sampson (79) blocks Pittsburgh defensive lineman Jimmy Scott (44) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina defensive back Kaleb Cost (21) runs an inteception back for a touchdown as linebacker Amare Campbell (17) looks to block during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Pittsburgh Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina tight end John Copenhaver (81) is taken down by Pittsburgh defensive back Tamon Lynum (8) and linebacker Braylan Lovelace (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina tight end Bryson Nesbit (18) cant's make the catch as he is defended by Pittsburgh defensive back Javon McIntyre (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton (28) is tackled by Pittsburgh defensive lineman Isaiah Neal (97) and defensive back Donovan McMillon (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton (28) runs against Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein (10) celebrates his touchdown run with offensive lineman BJ Williams (55) and tight end Gavin Bartholomew (86) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
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Pittsburgh quarterback Eli Holstein (10) looks to pass against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Eli Holstein threw for a career-best 381 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score as Pittsburgh beat North Carolina 34-24 Saturday for its first 5-0 start since 1991.
Holstein completed 25 of 42 passes, while also rushing for a team-high 76 yards, to lead the Panthers (5-0, 1-0 ACC). Running back Desmond Reid complemented Pitt’s offensive attack on the ground and in the air as he racked up 210 yards of total offense on 29 touches.
“We've got a (heck) of a football team,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “You know, offensively, they got a good football team. They moved it, but our guys bowed up on fourth down. Just a heck of a team win, and great effort by our guys.”
In the third consecutive loss for UNC (3-3, 0-2), Omarion Hampton paced the Tar Heels with 106 yards rushing and a score.
Pitt drove deep into UNC territory midway through the first quarter with the aim of taking a two-possession lead, but an errant pass from Holstein was picked off by Tar Heels’ sophomore defensive back Kaleb Cost, who sprinted 84 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
The turning point proved to be in the fourth quarter when — after the Panthers took a seven-point lead on a 3-yard rush from Holstein — Pitt stopped UNC on a fourth-and-1 in the red zone and responded with an 18-play, 73-yard drive that chewed 7:07 off the clock. A 37-yard field goal from Ben Sauls gave the Panthers a double-digit advantage with 2:01 to play.
To seal the win, Pitt's Kyle Louis sacked UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell on a fourth-and-2.
UNC was 2 of 6 on fourth down conversions.
“We didn’t think we were going to stop them very well, so we made a conscience decision going in we need to score touchdowns — we couldn’t be kicking field goals,” UNC coach Mack Brown said. “The analytics said to go for every one of them. ... If we made them, we’d be talking about how aggressive and smart the coach was.”
Pitt: The Panthers won in Chapel Hill’s Kenan Stadium for the first time in eight tries. Fueling the Panthers is an explosive offensive attack that entered the game ranked fifth nationally in scoring with 48.5 points per game.
UNC: After the pick-6– which was UNC’s first since 2019 – the Tar Heels’ defense failed to turn the Panthers over for the remainder of the game. Meanwhile, the unit continued to give up big chunk plays to Pitt, allowing Holstein to connect with receivers for pickups of 43, 72, 30 and 46 yards.
The redshirt freshman Holstein, who transferred to Pitt in the offseason from Alabama, is the first Panthers quarterback since Hall of Famer Dan Marino in 1979 to win each of his first five starts. His passing yardage total against UNC also broke the single-game record by a Pitt freshman set by Alex Van Pelt in 1989.
“Eli is a dog," Pitt defensive tackle Sean FitzSimmons said. "Looking at him out there, he's so good, there's nothing else to even really say about him.”
Holstein has 15 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions this season and has topped 300 yards passing in four of his five starts.
Pitt: Cal visits the undefeated Panthers on Oct. 12.
UNC: The Tar Heels host Georgia Tech on Oct. 12.
