Pitt leans on special teams, defense in win over Syracuse

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th October, 23:42 2025

Oct 18, 2025; Syracuse, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) celebrates his touchdown run with wide receiver Kenny Johnson (2) against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Kenny Johnson returned a punt for a touchdown to spark visiting Pitt to a 30-13 win over Syracuse in ACC action on Saturday.

Pitt's Mason Heintschel was 13-of-24 for 143 yards with an interception and a rushing score. Trey Butkowski kicked three field goals for the Panthers (5-2, 3-1 ACC), who have won three straight games.

Rickie Collins threw a pair of touchdown passes for Syracuse (3-4, 1-3), but he also was intercepted three times. He finished 16-of-32 for 126 yards -- 66 of which went to Johntay Cook II (seven receptions) -- and added a team-high 37 yards on the ground.

On the third play of the game, Collins overthrew Cook on a ball that was intercepted by Tamon Lynum. Shortly thereafter, Heintschel scrambled up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, Heintschel's deep ball was intercepted by Davien Kerr and returned 34 yards to the Pitt 12. Two plays later, Collins found Darrell Gill Jr. for an 11-yard touchdown.

The Panthers kicked a field goal early in the second quarter to go ahead 10-7, but the highlight of the period came in the waning seconds. With the clock ticking down, Syracuse's Jack Stonehouse unleashed a 43-yard punt that Johnson fielded in a crowd before bursting up the field for a 66-yard score.

Pitt's first drive of the third quarter ended with Butkowski's 42-yard field goal, but the rest of the quarter featured five punts. At one point in that stretch, the Orange benched Collins in favor of Luke Carney, who went 2-for-3 for 10 yards and ran three times for nine yards.

Collins returned and promptly threw another interception -- this one on a deflected ball -- as Kavir Bains-Marquez's pick set up Butkowski's 32-yard field goal. That kick put the Panthers up 23-7 with about 11 minutes left.

On the ensuing possession, Collins connected with Justus Ross-Simmons for a 12-yard touchdown. The Orange failed on the ensuing two-point conversion, but they executed a surprise onsides kick to give themselves another chance at points.

However, that drive was ruined by penalties as the hosts turned it over on downs. Juelz Goff sealed the win for the visitors with a 1-yard TD run with just under two minutes left.

--Field Level Media

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