Pitt quarterback Eli Holstein’s captivating season hit a roadblock Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium when he threw two interceptions, completed just half of his passes and managed just 133 yards through the air after averaging had scored 313.4.

So how did Pitt manage to beat California 17-15 while also posting what was clearly its worst performance of the season?

The No. 22 Panthers turned to an old friend – the sack – to extend their record to 6-0 for the first time since 1982. The win was Pitt’s second in two games against ACC opponents.

While other areas of the team struggled, Pitt recorded a season-high six sacks – five in the second half and three by defensive end Jimmy Scott – while the Pitt offense remained scoreless from the start of the second quarter until the end of the game. After averaging 46.5 points per game, Pitt did not score a point in the final 40 minutes and 4 seconds. The last of two touchdowns was scored 2 seconds into the second quarter.

Holstein finished the game completing 14 of 28 passes. The running game, which played most of the day without injured left tackle Branson Taylor and guard Ryan Jacoby, gained 144 yards, but half of it came on Desmond Reid’s 72-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

The game hung in the balance all day, and Pitt’s 17-9 halftime lead shrank to 17-15 when California quarterback Fernando Mendoza hit tight end Jack Endries for a 19-yard touchdown pass with 10:30 left in the game met. Endries caused problems for Pitt throughout the game, catching eight passes for 119 yards.

The 2-point conversion attempt – a trick play end-around rush by backup quarterback Chandler Rogers – failed. It was the Golden Bears’ second unsuccessful 2-point attempt of the game.

Still, Pitt couldn’t relax when California regained possession at the 20-yard line with 8:19 to play. The Golden Bears moved within field goal range with 4:30 left after a pass interference penalty on safety Cruce Brookins on an incomplete third-down pass. But Pitt’s season-long streak continued when Ryan Coe, a senior from South Fayette, missed a 40-yard field goal with 1:50 left.

California had one last chance with 47 seconds left, but a possession that began at the Golden Bears’ 20-yard line went no further than the 26-yard line. Mendoza finished the game completing 27 of 37 passes for 272 yards.

At the start of the game, coach Pat Narduzzi trusted his offense, won the coin toss and went for offense.

The attempt to start quickly and avoid catching up didn’t work. Pitt made a three-pointer and hit the ball to the 25-yard line. The Golden Bears responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by Jaivian Thomas’ 25-yard touchdown run at 8:56. The Cal lead was only 6-0 after Golden Bears coach Justin Wilcox decided to attempt a 2-point conversion and the pass failed.

Pitt didn’t have to play from behind for long and took a 17-9 lead at halftime

On Pitt’s next possession after the Cal score, Narduzzi took what would normally be considered a gamble, leaving the punt team on the sideline when faced with a fourth-and-5 from Pitt’s 49. It turned out to be the right decision, and Holstein hit Reid for 19 yards.

Pitt scored six plays later on Reid’s 5-yard run for a 7-6 lead with 5:08 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers completed the drive and the rest of the game without the left side of their offensive line. Taylor and Jacoby were injured and replaced by Terrence Enos and Jason Collier.

Narduzzi gambled again on the first play of the second quarter, this time with a fourth-and-one from much deeper in his own territory – the 28. Reid took the handoff and sprinted – largely untouched – 72 yards into the end zone for a 14-6 Projection.

The play was Pitt’s first 70-yard touchdown run since Izzy Abanikanda’s 80-yard score against Virginia Tech in 2022.

Later in the second quarter, Ben Sauls set two school records with a 58-yard field goal, extending his successful field goal attempt streak to 12. It was the longest streak by a Pitt player at Heinz/Acrisure Stadium. Alex Kessman set the record in 2020 at Boston College. Sauls shares the record streak with Connor Lee (2007) and Chris Ferencik (1995).