Pittsburgh stays unbeaten with 35-33 win over Virginia Tech despite Heintschel injury

Virginia Tech’s John Love missed a 36-yard field goal that cost the team a loss against Pittsburgh 35-33 on Friday night.

As the Panthers improved to 5-0, Pittsburgh quarterback Holden Geriner came off the bench to throw a scoring pass, and Ja’Kyrian Turner added a rushing touchdown for a team.

Pittsburgh has won both of their first two games of the Atlantic Coast Conference, one of three unbeaten teams in the league.

Pittsburgh was losing 14-0 but scored 21 straight points while the Hokies were held to zero, all after losing starting quarterback Mason Heintschel to an injury on the fourth play of the second half.

The Pittsburgh coach, Pat Narduzzi, buzzing with the road win, spoke in an on-field interview on ESPN.

“Now, any of those (Associated Oress Top 25) voters out there, if they wake their a** up, they might figure that out,” said Narduzzi.

The win also marks the first of the year for Pitt away from Acrisure Stadium.

However, post-win, Narduzzi didn’t get into details about Heintschel’s injury, though the quarterback was spotted on crutches.

But media reports suggest that the backup QB, Holden Geriner, would assume the role for the Panthers’ offense if Heintschel's injury prolonged.

Geriner, who is a fifth-year senior, played at Auburn and Texas State before enrolling at Pittsburgh in January and posted his second touchdown pass as a collegian.