True freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel continued his impressive start for Pittsburgh, throwing for 321 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers pulled off a stunning 34-31 upset of No. 25 Florida State on Saturday night.
Heintschel, making just his second collegiate start, completed 21 of 29 passes and overcame a pair of second-quarter interceptions to guide Pitt (4-2, 2-1 ACC) to its biggest win of the season. The victory marks the Panthers’ second straight behind Heintschel, who also eclipsed 300 yards passing in last week’s rout of Boston College.
His top target, Desmond Reid, proved to be a game-changer in his return from injury. The Miami native caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 38 yards on 10 carries. Reid’s explosive presence kept Florida State’s defense off balance all evening, especially across the middle of the field.
After a back-and-forth first half that saw the teams trade touchdowns, Florida State (3-3, 0-3 ACC) took a 24-21 lead late in the third quarter on Jake Weinberg’s 34-yard field goal. But the Seminoles’ inability to protect the ball — and to finish drives — proved costly.
Running back Caziah Holmes’ fourth-quarter fumble near midfield halted a promising drive, allowing Pittsburgh to seize momentum. The Panthers capitalized with a pair of field goals to go up 27-24.
Pitt extended its lead to 34-24 when Ja’Kyrian Turner capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run with 2:28 remaining. Florida State answered quickly on a 58-yard touchdown strike from Tommy Castellanos to Micahi Danzy, but the Panthers recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to seal the win.
Castellanos completed 16 of 23 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns — both to Danzy, who also scored on a 33-yard reception in the second quarter. The Seminoles finished with 170 rushing yards, but critical mistakes, including Holmes’ fumble and several defensive lapses, doomed their comeback effort.
Pittsburgh appears to have found a spark in Heintschel and Reid, with the freshman quarterback showing poise and accuracy against a ranked opponent. Reid’s return from injury added a dynamic element to the Panthers’ offense that Florida State struggled to contain.
For Florida State, the loss marks a third straight ACC defeat and continues a frustrating start to conference play. Despite solid offensive production, turnovers and missed opportunities continue to plague the Seminoles.
Pittsburgh travels to Syracuse next Saturday for another ACC matchup, while Florida State hits the road to face Stanford.
