PITTSBURGH —
When a busload of Johnstown football fans settled into their end zone seats at Heinz Field on Saturday afternoon, the group didn’t realize they had an ideal vantage point to watch a native son score his first touchdown for the Pitt football team.
“There were 46 of us that went down to the game on a bus. Most of us were sitting right in the end zone and we had a perfect view to see Antwuan running in,” said former Johnstown High coach Bob Arcurio, referring to one of his ex-players, Pitt senior cornerback and special teamer Antwuan Reed. “It made us proud. He knew we were there. I told him before the game, ‘Make sure you do a good job.’ He was fired up.”
Actually, Reed played a role in each of Pitt’s two touchdowns during a disappointing 26-14 home loss to Utah.
Reed was among the lead blockers as Buddy Jackson returned a kickoff
98 yards for a touchdown that gave Pitt a 7-3 lead. Three players later, the Panthers forced a Utes punt attempt by Nick Marsh that Andrew Taglianetti blocked.
Reed fielded the ball on a hop and ran 10 yards into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
“We had a block on. We were coming off the edge. Tags blocked it and it flew right in my hands,” Reed said during a telephone interview. “It bounced right up to me. I was in the right place at the right time.
“Any way I can help my team, that makes me feel good.”
Arcurio was beaming after Reed scored. It reminded him of a feeling he had when watching former Trojan LaRod Stephens-Howling take the field at Pitt years ago.
“When Antwuan picked up that ball I thought of the first time I saw LaRod take the opening kickoff against Notre Dame early in his career,” Arcurio said of the current Arizona Cardinals return man. “It’s special when you see a player who went through your system. This time the ball bounced right into Antwuan’s hands and he ran into the end zone. “Chills ran through my body.”
To read stories in their entirety, visit one of these links:
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat print edition.
Click here to subscribe to The Tribune-Democrat
Stanley Cup Preview: Key Matchups
Kendall: Indy 500 recap
Celtics crush Sixers in Game 7
Montero signs extension
On the Record: Anna Tunnicliffe
Highlights: History 300
NASCAR on FOX: Charlotte preview
Devils head to the Stanley Cup Finals
French Open Preview: Women's draw
French Open Preview: Men's draw
Controversial Show Offers Alternative Listening for Women During Stanley Cup Finals
Tebow Teased by Jets Teammates Over Virginity, Lolo Jones
Jets learn Sparano's offense
1st Inning: Hakeem Nicks
Tweet Talkback: Brandon Jennings
QB Kafka gaining valuable experience
Showalter and Arrieta on the loss to the Red Sox
Jenkins: 'I think I won'
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Horrow: Steinbrenner's know what they have
