Once upon a time, a long time ago, there were two neighbors, and any time those two neighbors put on shoulder pads and cleats, they quickly realized they didn’t like each other very much. It was called a rivalry (remember those?), and it would soon become the focal point — every year the two neighbors met to play their game.
Of course, we’re talking about the Backyard Brawl, and even back in 1923, the Pitt game was always circled by many West Virginia fans.
A record number of Mountaineers faithful made the trip to the big city that Saturday, Oct. 13, to see if Dr. Clarence Spears’ squad could repeat its 1922 victory — the first in 11 years — over legendary coach Glenn “Pop” Warner’s Panthers.
The pregame scuttlebutt seemed to expect a battle between the Mountaineers running game and the Pitt passing attack, and many predicted a high-scoring affair at sold-out Forbes Field. But what the 27,500 football fans witnessed instead was a completely dominating, punishing performance by the WVU front line on both sides of the ball.
How efficient?
In the first half, Pitt did not earn a first down, nor did their total yards on offense reach double digits, and they finished the afternoon with just three first downs and 71 total yards. Meanwhile, the WVU offense ran its running game smoothly all day, and if it hadn’t turned the ball over five times, the final score would’ve been far more lopsided.
A long Mountaineers drive that began midway through the first quarter ended early in the second with a 9-yard touchdown sweep around right end from halfback Nick Nardacci.
The extra point was blocked, leaving West Virginia up 6-0, but after Pitt again was forced to punt, the offense went right back to work.
Marching down field in large chunks, WVU moved to the 3-yard line, and then surprised the Panthers on fourth down with a slick option pass from fullback Gus Ekberg to Nardacci. Ekberg tacked on the PAT to extend the lead to 13-0.
The Mountaineers were was driving again late in the half, but ran out of time at the Pitt 22.
Throughout the second half, the Mountaineers threatened to blow the game open, but three interceptions and two fumbles kept them off the scoreboard. Pitt’s only score came after Nardacci muffed a punt at the WVU 17, leading to an Andrew Gustafson rushing touchdown three plays later.
But the Panthers did not threaten again, and the Mountaineers faithful trekked home happy with the 13-7 win.
WVU would later tie Penn State 13-13 at Yankee Stadium, and head into its final game of the year hoping for a second consecutive no-loss, one-tie season, only to lose a heartbreaking 7-2 decision to Washington & Jefferson to finish 7-1-1.
