SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Duquesne rallied back from a 20-3 deficit in the second half of a Northeast Conference (NEC) matchup at Bryant on Saturday, but the Dukes' come-from-behind effort fell just short as the Bulldogs claimed a 20-16 victory at Beirne Stadium.

With 106 yards on the ground, Duquesne running back A.J. Hines (Wilson, N.C. / Fike) became the program's all-time leading rusher in the contest. Hines now has 4,619 career rushing yards, surpassing current Dukes running backs coach Larry McCoy, who tallied 4,549 yards from 2009-12.

Duquesne moves to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in NEC play while the Bulldogs improved to 3-8 on the season and 2-4 in league action with the triumph.

After Dan Adeboboye put Bryant on top 20-3 with a two-yard touchdown rush early in the second half, Mitch MacZura's (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Central Catholic / Ohio State) second field goal of the day from 24 yards out cut the Bulldogs' lead to 14 with 5:22 to play in the third stanza.

The Dukes' defense would force a three-and-out before Duquesne marched 89 yards in 13 plays, capped by a one-yard Hines touchdown rush to shrink the Bryant advantage to 20-13 early in the fourth quarter. A 22-yard completion from Brett Brumbaugh (McDonald, Pa. / South Fayette) to Kellon Taylor (Landover, Md. / DeMatha Catholic) set up the score for the Dukes.

Duquesne forced another punt on the Bulldogs' next march, followed by a 20-yard MacZura field goal to minimize the Bryant edge to 20-16.

Bryant lined up for a 44-yard field goal to potentially put the Bulldogs up by seven with just over two minutes to play, but Duquesne got a hand on the attempt to give the Dukes possession at their own 26-yard line with 2:10 remaining.

Mark Allen (Hyattsville, Md. / DeMatha Catholic / Penn State) would rush three times for 21 yards while Brumbaugh completed a trio of passes for 28 yards to put Duquesne at the Bryant 25-yard line, but a personal foul penalty and an interception two plays later sealed the win for the Bulldogs.

Allen rushed for 119 yards on 26 carries on the afternoon while Hines toted the ball 33 times for 106 yards. 

Allen and Hines are the first Duquesne players to each rush for 100 yards in the same game since P.J. Fulmore (128 yards) and Klartel Claridy (105 yards) on Sept. 5, 2015.

It marks Hines' 25^th career 100-yard rushing game which also sets a new Duquesne program record. Allen now has a pair of 100-yard rushing performances on the season.

Brumbaugh finished 14-of-23 for 139 yards and Taylor recorded six receptions for 51 yards to pace the Dukes' receiving corps.

Spencer DeMedal (New Wilmington, Pa. / Wilmington Area) led Duquesne with eight tackles (six solo) with a forced fumble. Daivon Ellison (Linden, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep / Syracuse) had seven tackles (six solo) including a tackle for loss.

The Dukes, who came into the game ranked sixth in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in total defense, posted another stifling defensive performance, limiting Bryant to 216 total yards in the contest. Duquesne outgained the Bulldogs 370-216 including an advantage of 231-111 on the ground.

The Dukes also possessed the ball for 38:05 compared to Bryant's 21:55.

MacZura is the first Duke to connect on three field goals (19, 24, 20) in a game since John Domit at Sacred Heart on Oct. 28, 2017. 

NEXT UP
Duquesne hosts No. 18/19 Central Connecticut State next Saturday, Nov. 23 at noon in the season finale at Arthur J. Rooney Field. The Dukes will honor their seniors prior to the matchup with the Blue Devils.

CCSU claimed at least a share of the NEC title as well as the league's automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Playoffs with a 49-28 win over Robert Morris combined with the Duquesne loss on Saturday.