PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett threw a touchdown pass and ran for another as Pittsburgh scored on each of its first six possessions in its season opener, and raced to a 55-0 victory over Austin Peay at Heinz Field on Saturday.

Pickett and offensive coordinator Mark Whipple spread the love around as Pickett threw to seven receivers and six players scored touchdowns during the Panthers’ offensive explosion.

A Paris Ford interception set up Pitt’s first score, a 1-yard Daniel Carter plunge. Pickett connected with Shocky Jaques-Louis on a 68-yard strike before scrambling into the end zone from six yards out to score on Pitt’s second drive. He then connected with wide-open Maryland transfer DJ Turner for a 51-yard score.

After that, Whipple turned over the offense to the running game, with Vincent Davis scoring on a one-yard rush, Israel Abanikanda scampering to pay dirt on a 10-yard draw, and Todd Sibley, Jr. plunging in from one yard out on Pitt’s three second-quarter possessions.

Pickett finished 14 of 20 for 277 yards. Freshman Jordan Addison was his most frequent target, hauling in seven catches for 35 yards.

The Pitt defense pitched its first shutout since 2014, holding the Governors to 146 yards of total offense and 10 yards rushing.

Sibley blocked a punt and returned it for an 11-yard touchdown and Davis scored again on a short rush after a second botched Austin Peay (0-2) punt in the fourth quarter. The teams agreed to play 10-minute quarters in the second half. Seven Pitt players were held out of the game due to COVID-19 protocols.