Box Score PITTSBURGH, Pa. – To open the 2023 season, the Wofford College football team was defeated 45-7 by the University of Pittsburgh at Acrisure Stadium. The Panthers had a 28-0 lead at halftime and were up 45-0 before the Terriers got on the scoreboard with a 75-yard touchdown pass to freshman Tyler Parker late in the fourth quarter.
 
Wofford opens the season at 0-1, while Pitt is 1-0. The Terriers were led by Bryce Corriston, who was 12-of-17 for 127 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers were led by Phil Jurkovec with 17-of-23 passing for 214 yards, along with 53 rushing yards.
 
"I thought our defense played really well today against a very good ACC offense," said head coach Shawn Watson. "We gave up some big plays in the passing game when they hit on some seam routes early. The defense had their moments today and we played a lot of kids in the later parts of the game to get them experience which will continue to grow our team. Offensively, the biggest thing for us is getting five guys on the offensive line that we can have on a consistent basis. We have been battling sickness and some injuries, but we will be getting them back in the weeks to come and be an improved football team. We have some really good players in the wide receiver room, running backs room and tight ends room. Bryce (Corriston) knows how to complete the long handoff. We will just keep working."
 
Wofford had the ball first and went three-and-out. On the Panthers first drive, they had a first down before David Powers had a sack for a loss of 12-yards and they punted. The Terriers went three-and-out again and punted. On the ensuing drive, the Panthers had a first down and then converted a fourth-and-three. After another first down, they scored on a 10-yard run by Rodney Hammond for a 7-0 lead with 2:39 left in the first quarter.
 
The Terriers had a first down on their next drive after a roughing the passer call. J.T. Smith added a rushing first down, but the drive ended when a fumbled handoff was recovered by Pitt. After the recovery, the Panthers had a pair of first downs before quarterback Phil Jurkovec took it in for a 23-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 13:29 in the second quarter. The Panthers had two sacks on the next Wofford drive, which forced a punt. Pitt then had three first downs with the drive capped by a one-yard touchdown by Daniel Carter which made it a 21-0 game with 7:57 left in the first half. The Terriers had a first down catch by Alec Holt, but then faced fourth-and-one and punted. The Panthers moved 66 yards in just five plays to add a three-yard touchdown run by Rodney Hammond for a 28-0 lead with 1:19 remaining in the half. Wofford had a first down catch by Kyle Watkins, but punted with 16 second left.
 
To begin the second half, the Panthers put together an eleven-play drive that covered 75 yards and was capped by a one-yard touchdown pass to Karter Johnson for a 35-0 lead with 9:22 on the clock in the third quarter. Wofford had a first down on a roughing the passer call, but were unable to move across midfield and Atkins Roberts punted with the ball out of bounds at the five.
 
The Panthers added a 26-yard field goal on their next drive to take a 38-0 lead with 58 seconds left in the third quarter. Bryce Corriston found Alec Holt for a first down catch, but the drive stalled and Atkins Roberts had a 68-yard punt. With Pitt starting at the three-yard line, they changed quarterbacks and went three-and-out. Wofford went three-and-out as well, with the Panthers taking over with 10:33 left in the game. They gained a first down and then converted a fourth-and-one on the way to scoring with 1:27 left. With the ball back, Bryce Corriston found Tyler Parker for a 75-yard touchdown reception down the near sideline to make it a 45-7 score with 1:06 remaining. The Panthers ran out the clock to end the game.
 
Wofford had 126 total yards, with 127 passing yards. Pitt had 491 total yards, with 274 of those passing yards. Wofford had 7 first downs to 30 for Pitt. Wofford was 1-of-9 on third down. Pitt was 6-of-14 on third down and 3-of-3 on fourth down. Wofford was called for two penalties and Pitt was called for seven in the game. The Panthers had a 41:33 to 18:27 time of possession advantage.
 
Wofford vs. Pitt Post-Game Notes
This was the first ever meeting between Wofford and Pitt.   
 
First career starts were made by LB Matthew Clayton, DB Javis Mynatt, DB Maximus Pulley and OL Julio Del Jesus.
 
Freshman Tyler Parker's 75-yard touchdown catch was the first reception of his career and the eighth-lonest passing play in school history.
 
The 68-yard punt by Atkins Roberts in the fourth quarter was the sixth longest in school history.
 
On defense, John Michael DiRoberto led the team with 11 tackles, followed by David Powers with eight tackles and a sack.  
 
Wofford will remain on the road next week as the Terriers visit William & Mary.   
 
Game captains were Bryce Corriston, Anthony Garcia, Eli Purcell, and C.J. Tillman.
 
Attendance at Acrisure Stadium was 45,096.