The Turning Point: Ollison's Gallop

Things looked easy for Pitt in the first half against Louisville on Saturday, as a 35-point outburst in the second quarter, gave the Panthers a commanding 42-17 lead very late in the first half. Unfortunately, a pass interference call gave Louisville life and they capitalized with a late touchdown before halftime. The Cardinals rode that momentum into the second half and when Lamar Jackson scored in the fourth quarter, we had a game as Louisville cut the lead to one score at 42-34. The Panthers badly needed a spark as the offense had sputtered all second half. They didn't get it. Luckily the defense also held for a three and out and gave Pitt the ball at their own 39-yard line.

After two plays netted nine yards, the Panthers turned to their big redshirt freshman running back, Qadree Ollison. On third and one from their own 48 and badly needing a burst, Ollison took a hand off up the middle, found a hole, and cut to the left. Ollison galloped all the way to the Louisville 17-yard line to give Pitt some much needed breathing room and the opportunity to put the game away by putting them in scoring position.

Pitt was able to run some time off the clock and give themselves a two-score lead after a chip shot Chris Blewitt field goal. The field goal put the Panthers up by 11 and put the game out of reach. Ollison finished the game with 152 yards and one touchdown. 35 of those yards could not have come at a better time to seal Pitt's eighth win of the year with the 45-34 win over Louisville.

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