FSU football needed to get off to a fast start, hosting the Pittsburgh Panthers, who started freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel. Mike Norvell elected to play defense first, hoping to gain an edge against the young player making his first road start.
However, he led the Panthers on a 15-play 75-yard touchdown drive to open the game, converting several fourth downs and not throwing an incomplete pass. He also used his legs on third downs to make the fourth downs more manageable.
The FSU offense answered with a big-time touchdown drive to tie the game, but Heintschel led the Panthers on a nine-play 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by a 24-yard touchdown pass for a 14-7 lead with 14:21 left in the second quarter.
Heintschel was 10 of 12 for 116 yards and the touchdown pass, with 22 rushing yards. The Pittsburgh offense had a good game plan to get the ball out of his hands relatively quickly, but he showed good moxy to avoid holding onto the ball too long.
Pittsburgh special teams gave FSU a gift by fielding a punt inside the five-yard line, but Heintschel scampered to convert another third down before the FSU defense finally got its first sack to end the threat and force a punt.
The FSU offense scored on a long pass play to Micahi Danzy to tie the game with 4:20 left in the first half. We'll see if Tony White makes the necessary adjustments to rattle the freshman, but he looks comfortable back there so far. It looks like it could be a high scoring game, so the FSU defense must find answers in a hurry.