Box Score | Photo Gallery

Ryan Egolf entered the game late in the first quarter and led the Dukes on three quick scoring drives but it was not enough as Sacred Heart came from behind to defeat the Dukes, 23-20 Saturday at Rooney Field. The Pioneers, who trailed 20-7 with 3:49 remaining in the third quarter, would score the final 16 points of the game to secure the win.

Egolf, who entered the game with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter for injured starter Dillon Buechel, was 17-29 for 199 yards and three touchdowns. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Dukes and also ends their eight-game home winning streak.

Sacred Heart opened the scoring on its second possession of the game as Tyler Dube hauled in a 22-yard pass from RJ Noel to make it 7-0 at the 10:06 mark of the first quarter. Duquesne tied it up with 13 second remaining in the half as Egolf found Chris King from 15 yards out. The score was set up by a 28-yard reverse run by wide receiver Devin Rahming, a 15-yard personal foul on Sacred Heart and a 17-yard completion to Chavas Rawlins.

After a bad snap on a Sacred Heart punt attempt on its first possession of the second half, Duquesne took over at the Sacred Heart 30 yard line. Another Pioneer personal foul advanced the ball to the 12-yard line where Egolf connected with Rahming and a 14-7 lead.

Duquesne would make it a 20-7 advantage as Egolf hit King on a 58-yard scoring strike before Troy Moore blocked Austin Crimmins' point after touchdown attempt. It was the fifth touchdown of over 50 yards for King and his 11th of the season.

Sacred Heart responded on the next drive as Noel scampered 67 yards on a third-and-two play to score and make it 20-14 at the 2:39 mark of the third quarter.

The Duquesne defense would force Sacred Heart to punt on its next two possessions before a dropped snap on a Duquesne punt gave the Pioneers the ball on the Duquesne 37 with 6:46 remaining in the contest. SHU advanced the ball to the Duquesne three yard line, but the Red and Blue held off the attack and forced the ball over on downs at the seven yard line.

Duquesne proceeded to run the ball three times without gaining a first down and punting from their own end zone, elected to run some time off the clock before punter Patrick Dill stepped out of the end zone with 2:10 on the clock to make the score, 20-16 Duquesne.

Crimmins took the free kick from the tee at the Duquesne 20 and booted it to the Sacred Heart 18 before Dube returned it 37 yards to the Duquesne 45. Nine plays later, Noel hooked up with Dube for a second time with just 23 seconds remaining for the final score.

King had four catches for 113 yards, giving him six 100-yard plus performances in seven games this season. Rahming ws the top rusher with 43 yards on six carries. Sam Martello led the defense in tackles with nine (5 solo).

The Dukes return to action on Saturday, Oct. 25 as they host Alderson-Broaddus at noon at Rooney Field.

BY QUARTER    1   2   3   4       FINALSACRED HEART    7   0   7   9       23DUQUESNE    0   7   13  0       20
SCORING SUMMARY
1st 10:06   SHU - Dube 22-yd pass from Noel (Rogers kick), 6-86 (2:04)  7-02nd 0:13    DU - King 15-yard pass from Egolf (Crimmins kick), 5-72 (1:47)  7-73rd 11:27   DU - Rahming 12-yd pass from Egolf (Crimmins kick), 2-30 (1:19) 7-14    3:49    DU - King 58-yard pass from Egolf (Crimmins kick blocked), 4-80 (2:01)  7-20    2:39    SHU - Noel 67-yd run (Rogers kick), 3-75 (1:05) 14-204th 2:10    SHU - Saftey - Dill runs out of back of end zone 0-0 (0:00) 16-20    0:23    SHU - Dube 12-yd pass from Noel 9-45 (1:39) 23-20

LEADERS
Rushing (Att./Yds./TD): DU - Rahming (6-43-0); SHU - Noel (11-101-1)
Passing (Att./Comp./Int./Yds./TD): DU - Egolf (17-29-1-199-3); SHU - Noel (14-28-1-204-2)
Receiving (Att./Yds./TD): DU - King 4-113-2); SHU - Webb (4-87-0)
Tackles (Tot./Solo): DU - Martello (9/5); SHU - Hill (12/8)