Pittsburgh upsets #25 Florida State on the gridiron

JJ Laster from Graceville is the wide receivers coach for the Pitt Panthers

Local FSU fans who made the trip to last Saturday’s Florida State–Pittsburgh game didn’t get the outcome they hoped for. Pitt handed the Seminoles a 34–31 loss after a back-and-forth contest.

Both teams scored a touchdown in the first quarter, with FSU adding two more in the second to take a 21–14 halftime lead. Pitt closed the gap in the third quarter, outscoring FSU 7–3, then pulled ahead in the fourth with 13 points to secure the upset win.

Desmond Reid catches a 24-yard pass in the endzone for the Panthers in front of an FSU defender. Photo by Ben Williams

Fans did, however, have reason to cheer on the Pittsburgh sidelines. Graceville native JJ Laster, a former standout at Graceville High School, is in his second year as the Panthers’ wide receivers coach, and his group put on a show. Desmond Reid caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns, scoring on a 24-yard grab in the second quarter and a 16-yard reception in the third.

According to Laster’s bio on the Pitt Athletics website, “JJ Laster, whose pass catchers have helped fuel some of college football’s most prolific offenses, enters his second season as wide receivers coach at Pitt.”

The Times will feature more on Laster and other Graceville alumni who have found success at the next level in upcoming editions.