Box Score

Rafiq Douglas ran the ball 65 yards for a touchdown on the fourth play of the second half to give Duquesne a 21-10 lead in cruising to a 35-17 victory over visiting Wagner Saturday afternoon at Rooney Field. The Dukes improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in Northeast Conference play while Wagner fell to 0-8, 0-3.

Douglas, who posted a then career-high 172 yards in last week's 16-7 win at Robert Morris rushed 24 times for a new career high of 191 yards and three touchdowns versus the Seahawks.

Senior nose guard Zach Zidian paced the Duquesne defense with a career-high 14 tackles (11 solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack of eight yards and a fumble recovery.

Wagner lit the scoreboard first at the 8:32 mark of the first quarter as Alex Thomson hit Lloyd Smith with a six-yard touchdown strike, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive. The Dukes responded midway through the second quarter as Douglas scored on a two-yard run to tie the game at 7-7.

Wagner took its last lead of the day as Bryan Maley was good on a 42-yard field goal with 3:08 remaining in the half for a 10-7 advantage before Duquesne ended the first half scoring with Dillon Buechel hitting Chris King on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:17 to go to end the first half with DU leading, 14-10.

Douglas found paydirt for a third time at the 14:17 mark of the fourth quarter, this time on an eight-yard run to make the score, 28-10. The touchdown was set up by a 19-yard run by wide receiver Wayne Capers to the Wagner 16 yard line, following a Bobby Gustine season-best 39-yard punt return.

Wagner cut its deficit to 28-17 with 8:12 remaining in the contest as Otis Wright scored on a four-yard run following a Taymonee Johnson interception which he returned 33 yards to the Duquesne 22.

Wayne Capers secured the victory with 54 seconds remaining as he hauled in a 15-yard touchdown pass to make the final score, 35-17.

Buechel was 10-24 for 121 yards and two touchdowns while Nehari Crawford led the receivers with four catches for 46 yards. Defensively, Christian Kuntz had an interception and a pass break-up while Malik Shegog had two pass break-ups. Nathan Stone and Trenton Coles each had forced fumbles and Abner Roberts recovered a fumble.

Wright led Wagner with 136 yards rushing on 27 carries.

Duquesne which outgained Wagner, 354-271 had a 188-72 advantage in the second half.

The Dukes return to action on Saturday, Nov. 7 as they travel to Sacred Heart for a noon kickoff.

SCORING BY QUARTERS

SCORING SUMMARY1st    8:32    WC - Smith 6-yd pass from Thomson (Maley kick),13-75 (6:20)    7-02nd    7:35    DU - Douglas 2-yd run (Crimmins kick), 5-16 (2:02)    7-7    3:08    WC - Maley 42-yd field goal, 8-51 (4:20)    10-7    1:17    DU - King 28-yd pass from Buechel (Crimmins kick), 5-75 (1:41)    10-143rd    12:58    DU - Douglas 65-yd run (Crimmins kick), 4-82 (1:55)    10-21    14:17    DU - Douglas 8-yd run (Crimmins kick), 4-35 (2:07)    10-28    8:12    WC - Wright 4-yd run (Maley kick), 4-22 (1:22)    17-28    0:54    DU - Capers 15-yd pass from Buechel (Crimmins kick), 7-54 (4:05)    17-35