FAIRFIELD, Conn. – In a showdown of the 2018 Northeast Conference (NEC) co-champions on Saturday, Duquesne recorded three interceptions and held possession for over 43 minutes of action en route to a 20-6 victory over host Sacred Heart at the Campus Field.

The Dukes improve to 4-2 on the season and 2-0 in NEC play while the Pioneers fall to 3-4 and 1-2, respectively.

Reid Harrison-Ducros (Colleyville, Texas / Colleyville Heritage / Boise State) registered a pair of interceptions on the day while Daivon Ellison (Linden, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep / Syracuse) picked off a pass in a second straight game.

A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C. / Fike) posted his 23rd career 100-yard rushing performance, tallying 142 yards on 29 carries while Daniel Parr (Jupiter, Fla. / William T. Dwyer / FAU) threw touchdowns to Kellon Taylor (Landover, Md. / DeMatha Catholic) and Dontay Mayfield (Homestead, Fla. / Gulliver Prep / UCF) in the win.

Mitch MacZura (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic / Ohio State) chipped in a pair of field goals for the Dukes, who earn their fifth straight win over Sacred Heart.

The Dukes struck first when MacZura connected on a field goal from 37 yards out in the first quarter before Parr hit Taylor on a five-yard slant into the end zone to put Duquesne on top 10-0 in the second stanza. A 10-yard rush by Parr and 27-yard reception by Mayfield set up the score.

The Dukes extended that lead to 17-0 on their next drive when Parr found Mayfield for his first career touchdown reception again from five yards out.

A pair of 22-yard rushes by Hines and Mark Allen (Hyattsville, Md. / DeMatha Catholic / Penn State) as well as a 22-yard completion to Taylor on the scoring drive led to the Dukes' second touchdown of the game.

Duquesne took that 17-point advantage into halftime after limiting the Pioneers to just 86 total yards.

Sacred Heart would get on the board in the third quarter with Julius Chestnut's 61-yard touchdown rush. The extra point was no good, as the Pioneers cut the margin to 17-6.

MacZura added a 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter before the Dukes forced a turnover on downs in addition to Ellison's interception to close out the NEC road victory.

Sacred Heart came into the game averaging over 400 yards per game, but the Dukes held the Pioneers to just 233 total yards in the contest, including 84 through the air.

All told, the Dukes outgained Sacred Heart 379-233.

Duquesne limited the Pioneers to convert just 4-of-14 third down attempts while the Dukes were 12-of-20 on third own.

Brendan Thompson (Germantown, Md. / Northwest / Millersville) paced the Duquesne defense with a career-high 11 tackles (seven solo) including 1.5 of the Dukes' five tackles for loss. Ellison tallied seven solo tackles to go with a tackle for loss and interception.

Parr finished 15-of-26 for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Taylor paced the Duquesne receiving corps with six catches for 41 yards and the touchdown.

Hines eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the second consecutive game, moving into second in program history in career rushing yards. Hines now has 4,271 rushing yards, passing Donte Small (4,260 yards / 1998-01).   

Allen added 15 carries for 60 yards on the day for the Dukes.
 
NEXT UP
The Dukes return to Pittsburgh for a two-game home stand beginning with a homecoming matchup against Wagner next Saturday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. at Arthur J. Rooney Field.