Five Interceptions Lead Pitt to Crush Syracuse 41-13

By Carson Kass

#19 Pittsburgh handily beat Syracuse 41-13 last night. Senior Quarterback Kyle McCrord threw five interceptions, and three pick sixes, the first time a D1-FBS QB has done that since Brandon Wimbush did in a game for UConn in 2019. 

The scoring started in the first that would set the tone all night. Pitt Linebacker Rasheem Biles picked off McCord and returned the ball 35 yards for a touchdown. The next drive for the Orange ended in a tip-drill pick, somehow ending up on linebacker Brandon George who was on his back for the pick. The Ohio State transfer threw one more pick six to Kyle Louis for the cherry on top of a first quarter which ended 17-0 for Pitt.

To say it was a hostile environment for McCord is an understatement. The Panther’s student section was rocking, people dressed up as sharks and rocking as Pitt crumpled The Orange. “We pride ourselves on being called ‘The Sharks, If you come in here, you better learn how to swim,” Louis said.

Things got worse for Syracuse, another pick-six and a touchdown pass from Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein effectively sealing the game at half 31-0. The Panthers remained in control for the rest of the game.

Pitt moves onto 4-0 for the first time since 1982, Dan Marino’s Senior season. They’ll face off against new conference opponent and ACC title contender SMU next week. The Mustangs are ranked #22 and play the 6-1 Duke Blue Devils tomorrow.

Syracuse will face off against Virginia Tech next week, and the 4-3 Hokies do not look like pushovers. The Orange will have to recover at the JMA Dome, and hope the help of the crowd can keep things in control for the Cuse.

At the end of the first half, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown told his quarterback, “Stay focused, keep pushing, I’m with you, keep going all the way to the end.” The Orange hope to keep this mentality as they prepare for next week.