Pitt’s Blue-Gold spring game Saturday at Acrisure Stadium offered the Panthers an opportunity to wrap up their last organized practice sessions until fall camp in August on a high note.
Saturday’s “jersey scrimmage,” conducted using an extensive point-scoring system while featuring plenty of offensive and defensive scenarios, ended in a 46-10 triumph for the Gold squad.
With its conclusion, Pitt hopes its 15 spring practices will serve as a springboard into the summer, individually and collectively.
“I think we had a really great spring,” sophomore quarterback Mason Heintschel said. “Really took some great strides as a unit, offensively and defensively. Obviously, there’s a lot to work on, a lot to get better with. But I think, comparatively speaking, from the first day of spring ball to now, we’ve taken strides. I’m excited for what this group can do. I think we’ve got something really special here.”
In addition to normal point allotments for touchdowns, field goals, extra-point attempts and 2-point conversions, Pitt’s offense Saturday earned additional points for plays of 15- or 10-plus yards, first downs and more.
The defense was awarded points for forcing turnovers, three-and-outs, sacks and stopping the offense in various situations.
Among other scenarios, Pitt’s coaches challenged the offense and defense in 2- and 4-minute periods, the red zone, goal line and third- and fourth-down plays.
Official stats were not kept, but the highlights of Heintschel’s day included throwing a 14-yard touchdown to tight end Carson Kent, as well as an interception he had over the middle to Steel Valley alum and returning safety Cruce Brookins.
In total, Pitt ran 94 plays, this year’s affair having been closed to the public as a result of NFL Draft preparations around Acrisure Stadium.
If there were two major winners Saturday, they were quarterback Holden Geriner and receiver Malik Knight, both transfers, who connected for touchdowns of 64 and 86 yards.
Geriner, a redshirt senior who joined Pitt from Texas State, put himself in pole position to secure the backup quarterback gig behind Heintschel, with freshmen Corey Dailey and Angelo Renda also in the mix.
“I thought Holden had maybe one of the best days he’s had out here,” coach Pat Narduzzi said. “He was up and down throughout the spring, but he’s another guy who’s really smart. With a summer, with a spring, I’m happy with where he ended up this spring.”
As for Knight, a Western Carolina product, both of his touchdowns saw him edge Slippery Rock transfer and speedy cornerback Kanye Thompson.
“That boy is explosive,” Brookins said of Knight. “That’s one thing I would say: He’s an explosive player. He’s going to be a great attribute to us.”
Other notable splash plays Saturday included an early 19-yard run by tailback Ja’Kyrian Turner, a 31-yard touchdown by receiver Cam Sapp from Beau Jackson and a Synkwan Smith rushing touchdown from 12 yards.
Transfer kickers Antonio Chadha and Sam Hunsaker continued a battle that has raged all spring, with both hitting field goals from as deep as 53 yards.
Following the scrimmage, Narduzzi said he anticipated the competition to succeed Trey Butkowski, who transferred to Michigan in the offseason, as kicker to continue into fall camp.
“I think we’ve got two kickers. I really do,” Narduzzi said. “It’s going to be a big battle in fall camp. I think we can win with both of them right now. We’ll find out who that guy’s going to be in the fall.”
Notably not participating Saturday were linebacker Braylan Lovelace, receivers Blue Hicks and Censere Lee, plus cornerback Zion Ferguson.
Offensive lineman Keith Gouveia, a starter at left guard to begin the 2025 campaign, and defensive end Zach Crothers, both of whom suffered season-ending injuries last fall, did not participate all spring.
Heading into the spring game, Pitt named offensive lineman Kendall Stanley and linebacker Davin Brewton as its 2026 Ed Conway Award recipients, given to the most improved offensive and defensive players.
Stanley spent all of spring ball taking first-team reps at left guard, while Brewton, a reserve last year, has been used at the Panthers’ Money and Mike linebacker positions.
“It’s called development,” Narduzzi said. “That’s what we do.”