Ferguson's 185-Yard Rush Ends Pitt Skid Against Struggling Yellow Jackets
Pittsburgh used a dominant ground game and five sacks to defeat Georgia Tech 34-11, improving to 6-3.
By Madison Darwish ·
Freshman running back Damon Ferguson Jr. rushed for a career-high 185 yards and a touchdown to lead Pittsburgh past Georgia Tech 34-11 on Saturday night. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Panthers, who improved to 6-3 on the season.
Pittsburgh controlled the ball and the field. The Panthers outgained the Yellow Jackets 461 yards to 238. Their rushing attack gained 281 yards against a Georgia Tech defense that was missing several key players due to injuries. The Pitt defensive line recorded five sacks, pressuring Georgia Tech quarterbacks Alberto Mendoza and Grady Adamson throughout the contest.
The Yellow Jackets struggled to move the ball. Mendoza completed 16 of 25 passes for 81 yards in the first three quarters. He also fumbled three times, and the Panthers recovered one of those turnovers. Grady Adamson entered the game in the fourth quarter and ran for 63 yards and a touchdown. His rushing production was not enough to prevent Georgia Tech's sixth loss in their last seven meetings with Pitt.
Pittsburgh quarterback Holden Gernier threw for 180 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers faced setbacks that kept the score closer than expected. Tight end Carson Kent fumbled in the end zone in the second quarter while attempting a score. An early touchdown run by Ferguson was erased by a penalty. Gernier remained effective despite these issues. His 30-yard pass to Blue Hicks in the fourth quarter extended Pitt's lead to 24 points.
The result caps a difficult stretch for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference play. They came into the game after a road loss to No. 1 Miami. A year after finishing 9-4 and reaching No. 7 in the AP Top 25, Georgia Tech must win at least one of their final four games to avoid their worst record since 1994. They host Louisville next Saturday.
Pittsburgh will host Florida State on Nov. 13. The Panthers were penalized 10 times for 95 yards and committed three turnovers during the win. Coach Paul Chryst said the team needs to reduce those errors to finish the season strong.
