Mason Heintschel threw for 321 yards and connected with Desmond Reid on a pair of touchdown passes as Pittsburgh defeated No. 25 Florida State 34-31 on Saturday.
A true freshman, Heintschel completed 21 of 29 passes and tossed a pair of second-quarter interceptions. But he has surpassed 300 passing yards in both of his starts, building off a rout of Boston College last week with a road upset of the Seminoles.
Reid had eight catches for 155 yards and 10 carries for 38 yards for Pittsburgh (4-2, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Tommy Castellanos completed 16 of 23 passes for 245 yards for Florida State, including a pair of touchdowns to Micahi Danzy 58 yards in the fourth quarter and 33 yards in the second quarter.
But after the Seminoles (3-3, 0-3) went ahead 24-21 on Jake Weinberg’s 34-yard field-goal attempt, Florida State fumbled at midfield and then went three-and-out. Later, while trailing 34-24, came Castellanos’ 58-yarder to Danzy.
The Panthers finished with a pair of field goals and then Ja’Kyrian Turner’s 3-yard touchdown run capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with 2:28 left.
The Takeaway
Pittsburgh got a boost from Reid, who hadn’t played since the loss to West Virginia on Sept. 13. A Miami native, the 5-foot-8 Reid was a difference maker as he found openings in the middle of the field.
Florida State ran for 170 yards but Caziah Holmes’ fourth-quarter fumble near midfield halted a drive and took away some of the Seminoles’ momentum.
Up next
Pittsburgh plays at Syracuse on Saturday. Florida State plays at Stanford on the same day.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and apnews.com/hub/college-football
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.