On September 9, 2017, the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Pittsburgh Panthers met at Beaver Stadium for the 98th game in their longstanding football series. The intrastate rivalry between the two schools dates back to 1893, and it was revived in 2016 after a 15-year hiatus. I remember PSU’s domination of the series in the 1990s, but Pitt was able to pick up a pair of wins in 2000 and 2016.
The Nittany Lion with the Pitt Panther
The game was highly anticipated for Penn State fans who wanted to see a redemption after last year’s close loss at Heinz Field. The 2016 PSU team went on to win the Big Ten Championship, and Pitt’s loss was one of only two losses during their regular season. Some analysts claimed that the loss prevented Penn State from making it into the College Football Playoff.
The Nittany Lions enter the field flanked by the Blue Band
Over 109,000 fans were in attendance at a sold-out Beaver Stadium. According to ESPN, the crowd was the largest at the stadium in nearly a decade. Fans of both teams were pumped for the big early-season rivalry game. It was my first time ever attending a game in the series, and it took place on a warm and sunny September day. The Nittany Lions entered the game ranked 4th place in the country and were expected to come away with a victory.
TE Mike Gesicki catches a 1st Quarter TD pass from Trace McSorley
Penn State took an early 14-0 lead as QB Trace McSorley connected with TE Mike Gesicki for two touchdowns. Pitt’s offense struggled in the red zone throughout the early part of the game, and PSU was able to hold their lead. Pitt QB Max Browne threw an early interception which led to one of Gesicki’s touchdowns.
Pitt QB Max Browne drops back to pass
The Lions held on to their 14-point lead until Pitt finally got on the board right before halftime. Alex Kessman hit a short FG kick, and the teams went into the half with a score of 14-3. For PSU, the lead was still a little bit too close for comfort. Pitt’s defense was able to hold Penn State scoreless in the 2nd quarter.
Penn State in scoring position
In the 3rd quarter, Penn State extend their lead to 21-3 when RB Saquon Barkley turned a short reception into a 46-yard touchdown. Later in the quarter, Pitt connected for another field goal to make it a two-possession game at 21-6. However, PSU’s offense was still moving the football.
PSU QB Trace McSorley takes the snap
At the start of the 4th quarter, Penn State was able to extend its lead to 28-6 as Saquon Barkley scored his second TD of the game. PSU’s lead finally felt a bit more comfortable with the extra breathing room.
Pitt RB Darrin Hall carries the football
On the next drive, Pitt finally scored their first and only TD of the day on a run by back-up QB Ben DiNucci. After a successful two-point conversion, the Panthers were not able to score any more points in the game.
Saquon Barkley receives the kick-off
Penn State scored two more points on a safety and three points on Tyler Davis’s lone field goal. The final score ended up being 33-14, and the Nittany Lions were able to end their two-game losing streak in the rivalry. PSU took an early lead and never really let the game get too close again.
Fans leaving Beaver Stadium
Although many fans and commentators claim that the Penn State-Pitt rivalry is irrelevant today, I personally enjoy it. Both schools have storied football histories with legendary coaches and unbelievably talented players. The long break in the rivalry definitely hurt it. As PSU Coach James Franklin noted, the current players were toddlers when the series last ended in 2000. However, many of these players know each other from their high school days, and fans of both teams still anticipate these games. I hope the series continues being renewed well into the future.
