Eli Holstein and Pitt remain undefeated with win over North Carolina in ACC opener

Pitt and North Carolina spent much of Saturday afternoon trading touchdowns before the Panthers' 31-24 win climaxed early in the fourth quarter.

With Pitt clinging to a seven-point lead after tying the game three times at 10, 17 and 24, North Carolina was hoping for a fourth tie with nine minutes and 14 seconds left in the game. Facing fourth down less than a yard from the first down at the Pitt 8, North Carolina coach Mack Brown turned to a player he believed was his best choice – running back Omarian Hampton, the leading rusher in the ACC.

Pitt's defense, which had no interceptions and didn't get a sack until linebacker Kyle Louis got a sack with 1:11 left, stepped up when it mattered most. Hampton, who finished the game with 106 yards on the ground, crashed into the middle of the line and was stopped for no gain. During the game, North Carolina ran six plays on fourth down and converted only two.

After an official review, Pitt took the ball and picked up six first downs before the drive stalled at the North Carolina 19. Ben Sauls hit a 37-yard field goal for a 34-24 lead with 2:01 left. It was his second miss of the game and ninth of the season.

The win increased Pitt's record to 5-0 (1-0 in the ACC) for the first time since 1991. It was Pitt's first win in Chapel Hill, N.C., after seven previous losses 50 years ago.

Quarterback Eli Holstein was in control almost from start to finish, except for a pick-6 in the first quarter. He ended up accumulating 457 of Pitt's 523 total yards. He completed 25 of 42 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns and was Pitt's leading rusher with 76 on 10 carries. He was not released.

The deciding point was Holstein's 3-yard tiebreaking touchdown run with 12:44 to play.

Running back Desmond Reid was Holstein's favorite target with 11 carries for 155 yards. Reid also carried 18 times for 55.

Pitt broke the 17-17 halftime tie after stopping North Carolina on fourth down at the Panthers' 48 early in the second half. The offense took advantage of the good field position and scored on a 2-yard flip to Reid, who almost didn't cross the goal line before losing the football. The repeat test confirmed the result.

For the second time in the game, a long completion from Konata Mumpfield – 46 yards to the 1 – tied the game.

But it was tied early in the fourth quarter after North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell hit John Copenhaver for an 11-yard score with two minutes and seven seconds left in the third quarter.

Pitt seemed headed for a fast start, but the Panthers had to settle for Sauls' 24-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead within the first four minutes.

Holstein's 43-yard completion to Mumpfield moved the Panthers to the UNC 7, but Daniel Carter dropped a pass into the flat that might have resulted in a touchdown. On third down, Holstein's pass intended for tight end Gavin Bartholomew was knocked down at the line of scrimmage.

Then Pitt fell behind – a familiar point for the undefeated Panthers – after moving to the Tar Heels' 20-yard line. Holstein's pass to Poppi Williams was intercepted by North Carolina defensive back Kaleb Cost and returned 84 yards for a touchdown.

North Carolina held the football for 19 plays and for more than nine minutes in the first and second quarters. The Tar Heels converted two fourth downs along the way, but their third attempt from the Pitt 9 ended with an incomplete pass. North Carolina had nothing to show for a long possession.

Pitt responded immediately with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Holstein to CJ Lee, set up by a 72-yard pitch-and-catch to Reid. In stark contrast to UNC's previous performance, Pitt scored in 93 seconds.

North Carolina moved back into the red zone on its next possession, but this time Noah Burnettte kicked a 34-yard field goal to break a 10-10 tie.

That didn't last long – 76 seconds off the game clock when Holstein found Williams open for a 30-yard touchdown with 5:41 left in the half.

Pitt led 17-10, but North Carolina tied it with 42 seconds before halftime on Hampton's 3-yard touchdown run.

Early in that possession, Pitt defensive tackle Nahki Johnson caught a loose football and ran into the end zone after Criswell lost the ball. However, review of the replay revealed that Criswell's arm went forward when he was hit by linebacker Brandon George and the play became an incomplete pass.