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09/12 19:07 CDT Ferguson scores, Pitt defense holds on to beat UCF, 12-7
Ferguson scores, Pitt defense holds on to beat UCF, 12-7
By DAN SCIFO
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Damon Ferguson Jr. scored a touchdown and Pittsburgh's
defense held on to beat UCF 12-7 on Saturday.
Ferguson Jr. rushed for 59 yards and a score, as Pitt held out sophomore
running back Ja'Kyrian Turner with an undisclosed injury. Turner had nearly 900
yards of total offense as a freshman.
Mason Heintschel completed 18 of 29 passes for 212 yards in a steady downpour
for Pitt. The game started late because of a 65-minute weather delay. Last
week, Heintschel tied Pitt's single-game record and established a new ACC
single-game mark with seven passing touchdowns in a rout of Miami (Ohio).
Alonza Barnett III completed 20 of 31 passes for 186 yards for UCF, as the
Knights struggled offensively one week after a romp of Bethune-Cookman in their
season-opener. Barnett threw a 19-yard touchdown to Waden Charles in the final
three minutes. UCF had a chance at a game-winning drive, but DeMarco Ward and
Jeremiah Marcelin sacked Keyone Jenkins on fourth down to end the threat.
Barnett, a James Madison transfer, and the 2025 Sun Belt Conference Player of
the Year, helped UCF tie a program record with 73 points and set the school
mark for the largest margin of victory last week. But the Knights lost their
10th straight road game against Pitt. UCF's last road win came on Sept. 14,
2024, a 35-34 win at TCU.
Ferguson gave Pitt a 12-0 lead with a touchdown in the final minute of the
first half. He converted a pair of third downs on the seven-play, 44-yard
series.
Gabe Russo's punt pinned UCF inside the 10-yard line, leading to a safety and a
5-0 lead in the second quarter.
Braylan Lovelace pressured Barnett, who threw the ball away from the end zone.
Barnett was flagged for intentional grounding, giving Pitt its first safety
since Nov. 23, 2024 against Louisville.
The takeaway UCF: The Knights fell just short of bowl eligibility last season, and despite an impressive season-opening win against Bethune-Cookman, UCF seeks continued improvement in an attempt to reach a bowl game during its fourth season in the Big 12. Pitt: The Panthers won their first two games before ACC play begins on Thursday against Syracuse. Pitt has gone 16-16 in league play during the last four years since winning the conference championship in 2021 and the Panthers look for another fast start in the ACC.
Up next UCF: Meets Georgia State next Saturday at home. Pitt: Host Syracuse on Thursday in a nationally-televised home ACC opener. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
The takeaway UCF: The Knights fell just short of bowl eligibility last season, and despite an impressive season-opening win against Bethune-Cookman, UCF seeks continued improvement in an attempt to reach a bowl game during its fourth season in the Big 12. Pitt: The Panthers won their first two games before ACC play begins on Thursday against Syracuse. Pitt has gone 16-16 in league play during the last four years since winning the conference championship in 2021 and the Panthers look for another fast start in the ACC.
Up next UCF: Meets Georgia State next Saturday at home. Pitt: Host Syracuse on Thursday in a nationally-televised home ACC opener. ___ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full college football coverage here.
