Box Score | Photo Gallery

DUQUESNE 33, DAYTON 13
Sept. 13, Rooney Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Records: Duquesne (1-2), Dayton (1-1)
overcast , cool- 59 degrees

PITTSBURGH - Two big plays in the second quarter and another in the third helped propel the Duquesne football team to a 33-13 victory over visiting Dayton Saturday afternoon in Duquesne's home opener. The victory extends the Dukes' home win streak to six games.

In a series which has seen the last seven games decided by 10 points or less, this marked the largest Duquesne margin of victory in series history, equaling the 20-0 victory in 1920 with Art Rooney at quarterback for the Dukes.

After exchanging first quarter field goals with UD, Duquesne scored three second quarter touchdowns to capture a 23-6 halftime lead. On the first play of the second quarter, Ryan Ho scored his first touchdown of the season from four yards out to make it 9-3. Dayton answered with a William Will 47-yard field goal to make it 9-6 at the 9:28 mark.

Malik Shegog then intercepted a Will Bardo pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown for a 16-6 DU advantage. The Dukes then forced the flyers to punt and Devin Rahming returned the kick a school record 84 yards for a touchdown to end the first half scoring. It was Rahming's second career punt return, breaking his own school record after returning a punt 62 yards last year against Wagner.

Dayton narrowed its deficit to 23-13 as Connor Kacsor ran it in from seven yards out early in the third quarter. Duquesne responded with its third 50-plus yard play of the day as Dillon Buechel connected with Noel Oduho for a 58-yard touchdown.

Austin Crimmins ended the games scoring with 6:15 remaining in the third quarter with a 33-yard field goal.

Rafiq Douglas led the Duquesne running attack with 11 carries for 69 yards. Beuchel was 19-28 passing with one touchdown and one interception. Oduho led the receivers in yards with three catches for 66 yards and a score, while Chavas Rawlins led in receptions with five for 34 yards.

Defensively, Sam Martello had a team-best nine tackles (4 solo) and sack. Austin Whalen had three tackles for a loss, including two sacks and also had a quarterback hurry. Shegog, Ken Egu and Chris Jones each had interceptions.

The Dukes will host Monmouth next Saturday, Sept. 20 in a noon contest.

BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 FINAL
DAYTON 3 3 7 0 13
DUQUESNE 3 20 10 0 33

SCORING SUMMARY
1st 10:33 DU - Crimmins 22-yd field goal 9-58 (4:27) 0-3
3:59 UD - Will 38-yd field goal, 7-28 (3:31) 3-3
2nd 14:56 DU - Ho 4-yd run (kick blocked), 9-69 (3:54) 3-9
9:28 UD - Will 47-yd field goal, 12-36 (5:22) 6-9
6:32 DU - Shegog 75-yard interception return (Crimmins kick), 0-0 (0:00) 6-16
4:01 DU - Rahming 84-yard punt return (Crimmins kick), 0-0 (0:00) 6-23
3rd 11:23 UD - Kacsor 7-yd run (Will kick), 10-75 (3:37) 13-23
10:14 DU - Oduho 58-yd pass from Buechel (Crimmins kick), 3-67 (1:04) 13-30
6:15 DU - Crimmins 37-yd field goal, 7-34 (2:53) 13-33

LEADERS
Rushing (Att./Yds./TD): DU - Douglas (11-69-0); UD - Kacsor (20-84-1)
Passing (Att./Comp./Int./Yds./TD): DU - Buechel (19-28-1-218-1);UD - Bardo (10-22-2-92-0)
Receiving (Att./Yds./TD): DU - Oduho (3-66-1); UD - Smith (4-68-0)
Tackles (Tot./Solo): DU - Martello (9/4); UD - Beaschler (10/6)

NOTES This is the seventh straight year the Dukes have won their home opener ... Duquesne now has a six-game home win streak ... in a series which has seen the last seven games decided by 10 points or less, this marked the largest Duquesne margin of victory over Dayton in series history, equaling the 20-0 victory in 1920 with Art Rooney at quarterback for the Dukes ... Duquesne now leads the series with Dayton, 7-5 ... Devin Rahming's second quarter 84-yard punt return for a touchdown was a school record, breaking his own school record of 62 yards for a touchdown last year versus Wagner ... Duquesne has had three different running backs lead the team in rushing this season - game one at Buffalo was Klartel Claridy (12-39-0), game two at Youngstown State was Marcus Hughes (8-74-1) and today versus Dayton was Rafiq Douglas (11-69-0) ... the Dukes have outscored their opponents, 34-13 in the third quarter ... attendance was 2,163 (Rooney Field capacity is 2,200).