PITTSBURGH — Another fourth-quarter lead gone and another “what if” loss looming, Pittsburgh responded with a little bit of savvy, luck and a dash of redemption for its beleaguered defense thrown in for good measure to surge past struggling Georgia Tech.

First, Scott Orndoff kept his head while hauling in a tipped pass from Nate Peterman the tight end turned into a game-tying 74-yard touchdown with 3:50 to play. Then nose tackle Tyrique Jarrett stuffed Yellow Jackets running back Dedrick Mills on fourth down to give Pitt the ball back with 1:47 left to set up Chris Blewitt’s bank shot 31-yard field goal as time expired.

Just another heart-stopping Saturday for the Panthers.

“I think it’s just about believing and never getting down on yourself or on your team,” Orndoff said. “Just hanging in there.”

Something Pitt (4-2, 1-1 ACC) is getting used to under coach Pat Narduzzi. The outcome has hung in the balance in the final 2 minutes each of the last five weeks, including a last-second loss to North Carolina two weeks ago in which the Tar Heels converted four fourth-downs on the deciding drive.

That’s what made Jarrett and linebacker Matt Galambos’ stop so satisfying. The clock dwindling, Georgia Tech went for it on fourth-and-1 at its own 34 rather than kick it. Galombos — who Narduzzi describes as the defense’s “computer” — sensed a dive play was coming and changed the call right before the snap, leading Jarrett to stand up Mills short of the first down.

“I happened to guess right,” Jarrett said. “It was perfect.”

Pitt drove to the Georgia Tech 12 to set up Blewitt’s winner, which smacked off the right upright and through as time expired. It’s the second straight season Pitt topped the Yellow Jackets on a late kick by Blewitt, whose 52 career field goals are a school record.

“Called corner pocket,” Blewitt joked.

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson defended the decision to go for it rather than kick it and give Pitt’s offense - which punted just once all day - another shot. Instead the Yellow Jackets (3-3) dropped their third straight overall and their sixth straight true road game dating back to 2014.