Ferguson scores, Pitt defense holds on to beat UCF, 12-7

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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, but Ferguson Jr. filled in nicely with Pitt’s only touchdown.

“That was a manly run by Damon,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said of Ferguson’s score. “That’s kind of what he showed out there.”

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).

“The weather made it tough to throw the football, for sure,” Heintschel said. “I felt like just about every time I caught the snap, it was soaking wet in my hand.”

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.

“We have to play better on offense,” UCF coach Scott Frost said. “I just don’t think we clicked. We looked clumsy getting lined up. Happy with how the defense played. If they give us that kind of effort on the road, we have to find a way to win.”

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.

Pitt limited UCF to 206 yards of total offense, including 20 yards rushing. The Panthers were 2:51 from their first shutout of a FBS opponent since they blanked UConn in November 2005.

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.

UCF: Meets Georgia State next Saturday at home.

Pitt: Host Syracuse on Thursday in a nationally-televised home ACC opener.

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