M.J. Devonshire’s pick-six proves pivotal in Pitt’s Backyard Brawl win over West Virginia

The 2022 version of the Backyard Brawl between No. 17 Pitt and West Virginia had it all.

Big plays. Defensive stops. Lead changes. Heartbreak (or elation, considering where you fall in this rivalry). And, of course, one play on which the entire game pivoted.

And Panthers cornerback M.J. Devonshire got to be the central figure in it. The redshirt junior made a heads-up play that not only gave his time the lead but also proved to be the difference in a 38-31 victory that broke a three-game losing streak for Pitt (1-0) against WVU (0-1) in the series.

Devonshire made his play as West Virginia’s JT Daniels attempted to lead the Mountaineers on a go-ahead scoring drive late in the fourth quarter. Daniels threw to Bryce Ford-Wheaton; the ball bounced off the receiver’s hands and straight into Devonshire’s.

MORE: Pitt vs. West Virginia final score, results: Panthers prevail in wild Backyard Brawl

Devonshire then weaved in and out traffic en route to the 56-yard touchdown with 2:58 remaining.

PITT PICK-SIX TO TAKE THE LEAD LATE IN THE 4TH 😱 pic.twitter.com/dMImh2Rznm

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 2, 2022

“I just knew I had to run as fast as I could,” Devonshire said, per The Associated Press.

Not a bad way to secure a victory in the first Backyard Brawl since 2011 (and the first victory for the Panthers since the infamous 2007 game that kept the Mountaineers out of the BCS championship game).

It was the second of two fourth-quarter scores by Pitt in the span of 43 seconds. The first was a 24-yard catch-and-run by Israel Abanikanda from Kedon Slovis to tie the game. The play also happened to be the second turnover forced by Pitt’s defense; the first occurred in the second quarter when Erick Hallett recovered a Kaden Prather fumble to set up the Panthers at the Mountaineers’ 35.

MORE: Top 25 QBs for 2022 | Preseason All-Americans

The drop was an unfortunate play for Ford-Wheaton, who mostly played well. He led all receivers with nine receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

But Devonshire got the better of him — and the Mountaineers — on a play that proved be the difference in the game.

“This is one of the greatest rivalries in college football and I just did something crazy I’m going to get to tell my kids about,” Devonshire said, per the AP.