We don't have direct access to Pitt's game plan or call sheet from Saturday's 45-24 win against Football Championship Series foe Rhode Island, but it read something like this:
Israel Abanikanda, blue No. 2, Izzy, and RB1.
It was the four-touchdown performance by the No. 24 Panthers' starting running back that vaulted them to victory, despite speculation of the potential for taking some of the load off of his shoulders after a 31-carry game at Western Michigan and back-to-back 100-yard performances.
Pat Narduzzi told us earlier this week that he wasn't going to consider lightening Abanikanda's workload, and he stuck to his guns.
"Yeah, Izzy has done a nice job," Narduzzi said. "When he pops through there, he can pop through, as you guys see. The offensive line did an outstanding job, so they've done -- we took what they gave us today, and we were able to run the ball, and if we can run the ball and have the ball for 35 minutes, it's a good day."
Consider it three 100-yard games in a row for Abanikanda, who stole the show with 19 carries for 177 yards -- and zero lost -- with his four scores.
Over his last three games, Abanikanda has rushed for 6.2 yards per carry with six touchdowns. The ACC's leader in all-purpose yards is now averaging 180.3 per game, after adding 19 receiving yards and 49 kick return yards for 245 all-purpose. His output on Saturday was more than half of the amount of yards he accumulated in Pitt's first three games combined.
There is a noticeable difference in the 2021 and 2022 versions of Abanikanda, who was a darling pick to be a breakout among ACC running backs. He has earned the praises from position coach Andre Powell and his fellow position mates for his offseason work, which came more from a mental and cerebral standpoint rather than trying to just physically grow stronger or quicker.
"I've just spent more time with the running backs and the running back coach," Abanikanda said, "and I just spent more time studying film, studying my opponents, and studying what I got to do better.
"Being decisive in my cuts, being decisive in what hole to run into, being decisive in who to I.D. blocking-wise."
His TD runs were each of double-digit yards. In order: 67, 12, 24, and 13. In the process, the junior earned the first three-TD game by a Pitt player since Rodney Hammond Jr. rushed for three against New Hampshire last year, and the four rushing scores tied for the second-most in a game in Pitt history, along with James Conner (twice), Kevan Barlow, Dion Lewis, LeSean McCoy, and Darrin Hall.
Abanikanda has carried the ball 75 times over his last three games. But, he said there is more gas in the tank as ACC play looms.
"I mean, yeah, there's going to be bruises and stuff, but that's what the game comes with," Abanikanda said. "I've just got to be a soldier."
Pitt largely kept it simple otherwise in many ways.
That goes for the play-calling, for the throws by re-inserted quarterback Kedon Slovis, and for the preservation of players with injury concerns or which have already seen a significant number of snaps to this point in the season.
But, Pitt (3-1) was not a world beater on Saturday by any stretch.
"I think we've got a lot of stuff to clean up," Calijah Kancey said. "No game is perfect, and I don't think we're at the full potential that we are right about now. But, we are playing good football."
That's pretty well explained by Pitt's preseason All-American defensive tackle.
"Good outing by our guys," Narduzzi said. "Again, I say good. I don't think it was great. Didn't think we had the emotion that we need to come with every Saturday afternoon for whatever reason."
That's also pretty well explained by Pitt's head coach.
MORE FROM THE GAME
• Slovis wasn't asked to be Dan Marino for Pitt today, but his return after missing six quarters and an overtime of action allowed for what was a timid offensive game plan. Slovis completed 20 of 27 passes for 189 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and a rating of 132.9. He was also not sacked.
Slovis completed six passes in a row at two separate points in the game. But, Pitt receivers were called upon to do most of the heavy lifting. Of Slovis' 189 yards, 191 were officially registered after the catch. That signifies a lot of dinking and dunking and throws near and behind the line of scrimmage, which is not the pizzaz and fun-filled offense that was expected to be displayed into ACC play.
Abanikanda's success running it surely had something to do with it, but the only real shot taken downfield was to Konata Mumpfield down the sideline midway through the fourth quarter.
"A lot of different coverages," Slovis said. "We tried to dial up some shots, and you just have be a good decision maker and check it down. That's why you see Izzy -- checking down to Izzy a few times -- or Konata. They get explosive plays from check-downs. So they can still get explosives, but, yeah, they were playing deep, trying to stop those deep shots."
• M.J. Devonshire made more history with his punt return for a touchdown as Rhode Island went three-and-out to start the game. The hero from the Backyard Brawl took Davey Schaum-Bartocci's 55-yard boot and blasted through the seam for an 82-yard score to put Pitt up 7-0 with 12:18 left in the opening quarter.
With that, the Aliquippa native Devonshire became the first Pitt player to return an interception and a punt for touchdowns in the same season since fellow Quip legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame nominee Darrelle Revis did it in 2006.
"It means a lot," Devonshire said. "I was not aware of that until after the game. I didn't know about it. I guess it doesn't happen often, so it means a lot to definitely watch him do it. He paved the way. I just followed it."
• You wanted reserves today? You got reserves today. Here are some lesser-heard names you'll find on the participation report who played significant snaps: DE Bam Brima (starter), DE Nahki Johnson, DB Ryland Gandy, DB Jahvante Royal, WR Myles Alston, DB Javon McIntyre, DB P.J. O'Brien (not just on special teams), LB Buddy Mack III, DB Stephon Hall, LB Myles Canton, DL Sam Williams, OL Jason Collier, DL Dorien Ford, DL Sean FitzSimmons, WR Gavin Thomson, WR Jake McConnachie, DL Deandre Jules, PK Caleb Junko, DL Elliot Donald, DL Chris Maloney.
Narduzzi was asked post-game if the score was going to indicate on when to pull some of the starters:
"Not really," he responded. "We got -- whatever -- 14 up, we talked about at one point just getting Nate (Yarnell) in there again and letting him go, but coach (Frank) Cignetti just wanted to stick with (Slovis) and finish it the right way. We had a lot of twos in on defense, I can tell you that. Threes, maybe fours."
• One hundred and eight of Rhode Island's 144 yards in the first half came off of two plays: A 63-yard rushing TD from Marques DeShields and Paul Woods' 45-yard catch which set up a second DeShields TD near the end of the first half. Pitt held the Rams (2-2, 1-1 CAA) to 36 yards on 19 plays (1.9 yards per) otherwise.
"First one was the formation in the boundary," Narduzzi said. "I think we had a backup safety in there. P.J. (O'Brien) was in there, and I think P.J. ran right into the back of John Morgan. He's got to find the hole, and that's not very good by our twos.
"Some guys earned playing time, some guys will lose playing time based on how they performed today. You try to give guys opportunities, but you give a guy an opportunity and he gives up a big run, it's not good."
• The onside kick executed and recovered by Junko at the end of the game was a planned endeavor, according to Narduzzi. On the PAT following the prior Pitt touchdown, Rhode Island's Fredrick Mallay was called for a roughing the kicker after he blew up Ben Sauls in the backfield. Junko was confronted by Narduzzi and Powell on the sideline after the play.
"Yeah, it's something we called," Narduzzi said. "Obviously you got the ball at the 50-yard line, we can kick it deep. The first time we had that earlier in the year, I forget what game it was -- Tennessee or whatever -- we kicked it deep, but someone has got to be aware of that kick, and you got the ball at the 50-yard line, there's not much risk after a 15-yarder for roughing our kicker on the one. Junko hadn't gotten a lot of reps at it, either. So kudos to not coach (Bob) Junko, to coach Junko's grandson, for executing that properly.
Calculated call? Junko went rogue? You be the judge:
• According the the ACC Network's broadcast, Pitt tight end Gavin Bartholomew was evaluated for a shoulder injury. He held his left arm as he walked off the field during the second quarter and did not return to the game. He appeared on the Panthers sideline in the second half in street clothes and with a sling on his left arm.
Bartholomew finished Saturday with one reception for three yards.
• True freshman, Monaca native, and Central Valley product Sean FitzSimmons achieved his first career sack late in the fourth quarter.
"That's MoneyFitz right there," Kancey said, referring to FitzSimmons' Instagram account. "That's my guy. I'm proud of him. I keep giving him high-fives every time I see him. I'm happy for him."
• Slovis was not sacked on Saturday, despite not having starting center Owen Drexel in the lineup for the second straight game -- Jake Kradel started -- and having players rotating in across the right side throughout the game.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE ESSENTIALS
• Box Score
• Live File
• Top 25 scores
• Schedule
• ACC standings
• Statistics
THE INJURIES
• DID NOT DRESS: QB Nick Patti, RB Rodney Hammond Jr., WR Jared Wayne, OC Owen Drexel, DE Nate Temple, DE Dayon Hayes, DT Devin Danielson.
• DRESSED, BUT DID NOT PLAY: CB Marquis Williams, DE Deslin Alexandre.
• LEFT THE GAME: TE Gavin Bartholomew, PK Ben Sauls (after the final PAT, when Junko kicked off).
THE SCHEDULE
• Pitt is all ACC from this point forward. Up first in conference play is Georgia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Acrisure Stadium. Announced late Saturday night, kickoff is at 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on the ACC Network.
THE CONTENT
• Visit the Pitt team page and my Twitter page for more from Acrisure Stadium. Gary Morgan and I are recording a new H2P Podcast Saturday night, so check for that on all platforms on Sunday.
