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Pitt wins first ACC game in shootout

 
In Pittsburgh’s second game as an ACC team, quarterback Tom Savage ties a league record with six touchdown passes.
In Pittsburgh’s second game as an ACC team, quarterback Tom Savage ties a league record with six touchdown passes.
Published Sept. 22, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. — Tom Savage, Tyler Boyd and the Pittsburgh Panthers made themselves right at home on the road in the Atlantic Coast Conference — both in the end zone and in the record book.

Savage tied a league record with six touchdown passes and the ACC newcomers held on to win the second highest-scoring game in conference history, 58-55 over Duke on Saturday.

"Basically, everybody on the offense scored," Boyd said.

Savage threw for a career-high 424 yards on 23-of-33 passing with three touchdowns to the freshman Boyd.

"That's a quarterback's dream, especially playing (behind) the line that we have and the receivers we have," Savage said. "Stat-wise, it was pretty good, but I think it's easy to do with those kind of guys. I think anybody can throw those bombs and be protected by our offensive line."

The Panthers never trailed in their first ACC victory and first league road game despite receiving plenty of scares down the stretch.

"(Saturday) was a true test, and I think it was a good indication of where we're at," receiver Devin Street said. "Wins and losses come a dime a dozen, but effort can't be matched, and we had effort out there."

Brandon Connette had four touchdown passes and four interceptions, and he rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns for Duke.

"There was never a moment that you thought that the team was ready to shut down," coach David Cutcliffe said.

VA. TECH 29, MARSHALL 21, 3OT: Logan Thomas ran 2 yards for a touchdown then ran for the 2-point conversion in the third overtime as the host Hokies overcame a sloppy performance. Virginia Tech tied it with 3:09 left in regulation.

MARYLAND 37, W. VA 0: A.J. Hendy scored on a 28-yard interception return and recovered two fumbles for the host Terrapins (4-0), off to their best start since 2001.

GA. TECH 28, UNC 20: David Sims ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets rallied for their eighth straight home win in the series. Vad Lee's 1-yard run gave Georgia Tech its first lead at 21-20 in the third quarter.

WAKE FOREST 25, ARMY 11: Josh Harris rushed for 96 yards and two second-half touchdowns, Michael Campanaro had a 66-yard scoring catch and the visiting Demon Deacons rallied for their seventh straight win in the series.

SYRACUSE 52, TULANE 17: Terrel Hunt, making his first career start for the host Orange, threw for four touchdowns and ran for another. Clay Cleveland caught two of Hunt's TDs.

UVA 49, VMI 0: Kevin Parks and freshman backup Daniel Hamm ran for more than 100 yards and two touchdowns each as the host Cavaliers tuned up for the start of their conference schedule.