Pittsburgh defense steps up in overtime

Panthers hold off North Carolina to stay in first place

Kenny Pickett hit Lucas Krull for an 11-yard touchdown pass in overtime and No. 25 Pittsburgh’s defense did the rest as the Panthers held off North Carolina

30-23 in the rain Thursday night.

Pitt (8-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) kept firm control on first place in the ACC’S Coastal Division with two weeks to go after blowing a 16-point lead before collecting itself in overtime behind Pickett.

Pickett completed 25 of 43 passes for 346 yards with three touchdowns and an interception on a night he became the school’s career leader in passing yards. His dart to Krull in the middle of a downpour gave the Panthers the lead during the opening possession of the first extra period.

North Carolina (5-5, 3-4) attempted to respond but went nowhere on four plays, the last a fourthdown desperation heave by quarterback Sam Howell that was picked off by M.J. Devonshire. Howell passed for 296 yards with two touchdowns.

Pitt can earn its second Coastal Division title and trip to the ACC title game in five years if it wins out.

The Panthers could also clinch with a victory over Virginia on Nov. 20 and any conference loss by Miami.

The Tar Heels were looking to beat a ranked opponent for the second time in five days. Yet the magic they summoned while knocking off a thenunbeaten Wake Forest last Saturday vanished in overtime.

The expected shootout between two teams featuring Nfl-ready quarterbacks averaging a combined 80 points a game never materialized. Pitt and North Carolina struggled to reach half that total as Howell and Pickett spent a large portion of the night under heavy duress.

The Panthers raced to a 17-point lead before the Tar Heels had a first down. Each of North Carolina’s first three drives ended in sacks and the Tar Heels allowed five in the first half as Pitt went up 23-7 behind Pickett.

The super senior threw for a pair of touchdowns and became the Panthers’ career leader in yards passing when he broke Alex Van Pelt’s mark of 11,267 with a 44-yard heave

in the first quarter.

Keith Srakocic / Associated Press Pittsburgh wide receiver Jared Wayne makes a catch for a touchdown past North Carolina defensive back Storm Duck. The Panthers improved to 5-1 in the ACC with the victory.