Pitt QB Heintschel, WR Johnson Pick Up ACC Honors
After Pitt football’s dominant offensive display in a 53-34 victory over NC State, quarterback Mason Heintschel and wide receiver Kenny Johnson have picked up weekly ACC honors.
Heintschel was named the ACC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season, while Johnson earned the ACC Receiver of the Week honor for the first time in his career, the league announced Monday.
In just his fourth-career start, Heintschel was excellent agains the Wolfpack, completing 28-of-48 passes (58%) for 423 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The passing yardage comes as the most in a single game for a Pitt freshman and sixth all-time among Panthers quarterbacks.
“Mason played great,” Narduzzi said following the NC State win. “And, again, he’s upset — he’s in the locker room upset that he missed some throws and missed that and could have done this better. But that’s kind of how he is. He’s not worried about what he did well. He’s worried about what he can fix, and you gotta love that.
Along with Heintschel’s rookie of the week awards, he also has an ACC Quarterback of the Week under his belt and a Shaun Alexander National Rookie of the Week accolade as well.
On the year, Heintschel has thrown for 1,243 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also added 122 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
Johnson was Heintschel’s favorite target in the winning effort on Saturday as he pulled in seven passes for 112 yards to go with a 10-yard touchdown reception. He picked up 48 yards after the catch.
Those numbers all came in the first half for the junior wide receiver as he would exit the game after the touchdown play, where he took a helmet to his right arm.
He was seen on the sidelines in the second half protecting his right arm inside a jacket.
“A little bit of both. A little bit of precaution, but, you know, at half time he said, ‘Coach, if I feel better, can I go in?’ I’m like, hey, that’s up to the trainers. But he wanted to go back in there, but I’m glad we didn’t have to put him in there. But I don’t know if he could have or not,” Narduzzi said.
Johnson has totaled 33 receptions for 502 yards and three touchdowns this season.
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