Nov. 2, 2002

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Top-ranked Duquesne exploded for 39 second quarter points in cruising to a 59-10 MAAC Football League win over Iona at Rooney Field. The victory, Duquesne's 22nd in a row in league play, upped DU's record to 9-0 (6-0 in the MAAC), while Iona dropped to 5-4 (4-3 in the MAAC).

The win also put the Dukes in position to clinch their fourth consecutive MAAC title with a win at Canisius next week.

Duquesne put the game away early as sophomore quarterback Niel Loebig (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette), who finished the game 21-of-35 for 274 yards, connected on four of his school record-tying five touchdown passes in the second quarter. With the Dukes up 9-3 midway through the second quarter, Loebig caught fire, capping a 75-yard drive with a seven yard strike to junior Randy Vulakovich (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Shaler).

Following an Iona fumble, Loebig found senior Jeremy Conley (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Allderdice) for a 46-yard score to put the Dukes up 24-3. With the catch, Conley passed Gerald Foster to become the Dukes' all-time receiving yardage leader.

Two plays later senior Leigh Bodden (Hyattsville, Md. / Northwestern) posted the first of his school record-tying three interceptions, to set up a 13-yard pass from Loebig to tight end Matt Mrdjenovich (Harrison City, Pa. / Penn-Trafford) to push the lead to 31-3.

Junior Mike Hilliard (Homer Center, Pa. / Homer Center), who rushed for a career-high 205 yards on 36 carries scored his second touchdown of the day from 15 yards out following sophomore Armar Watson's (Forrestville, Md. / Suitland) interception. Then, with under a minute to go in the half, Bodden returned an interception 61 yards to set up a 13-yard Loebig-to-Conley hook-up with two seconds left in the half to finish the second quarter barrage and put the Dukes up 45-3.

Iona became the first MAAC school to score more than seven points on the Dukes this season when Tom Adams scored from one-yard out early in the fourth quarter. DU closed out the scoring with a six-yard Loebig-to-Vulakovich TD pass and a junior Matt Hrutkay's (South Plainfield, N.J. (Immaculata) 20-yard run. Conley (7-103-2) and Yardon Brantley (7-114-0) both topped the 100-yard receiving mark for the Dukes.

Duquesne, who entered the game ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA in total defense, forced six Iona turnovers on the afternoon while limiting the Gaels to 51 yards rushing on 30 attempts. DU outgained Iona 496-186 on the afternoon, including a 329-74 edge during the decisive first half.

The Dukes return to action on Saturday, Nov. 9 as they travel to Canisius for a 1:30 game.

LEADERS

Rushing (Att./Yds./TD):
DU - Hilliard (36-210-2)
IC - Adams (7-22-1)

Passing (Att./Comp./Int./Yds./TD):
DU - Loebig (35-21-0-274-5)
IC - Brieden (21-11-3-135-0)

Receiving (Att./Yds./TD):
DU - Brantley (7-114-0), Conley (7-103-2)
IC - Palmiotto (7-78-0)

Tackles (Tot./Solo):
DU - Wissner (9/2)
IC - Ferranti (11/6)

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